Bring Our Families Home

Last updated
Bring Our Families Home
Formation2022
Key people
Neda Sharghi, sister of Emad Shargi; Harrison Li, son of Kai Li; Amber Bobin, family of Paul Rusesabagina; Drew Havens, advocate for Eyvin Hernandez

Bring Our Families Home (BOFH) is a campaign by family members of American hostages and detainees advocating for their immediate release. The James Foley Legacy Foundation claims that there are approximately sixty Americans who are being held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. The Foley Foundation provides support to BOFH. [1] [2]

Contents

The successful advocacy campaign of Trevor Reed's family, which pressured the U.S. government to secure his release from Russia, was a transformative moment for the families who founded BOFH. [3] The detention of Brittney Griner in Russia, who is a member of BOFH, has elevated the profile of wrongful detentions and American hostages. [4] [5]

Advocacy campaign

Purpose

The campaign launched in May 2022 to urge United States President Joe Biden to use "any and all means available," including prisoner exchanges, in order to secure the release of their family members. [3] [6] BOFH has asked for meetings with President Joe Biden by families of those who are detained in the same country. [3]

In May 2022, BOFH gathered near the White House to request a meeting with President Joe Biden and to raise awareness about wrongful detentions. [7] [8] In June, the campaign wrote a letter to the President urging him to meet with families. [9] [10] Shortly after the letter was sent, families met virtually with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Many families were left frustrated following the meeting. [11] [12]

Washington D.C. mural

In July 2022, the campaign unveiled a 15-foot tall mural that featured eighteen Americans who are wrongfully detained abroad. [13] [14] The mural spans an alley in Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) on M Street near Levain Bakery. [15]

The mural included the images of WNBA Basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia, Emad Shargi (Iran), Luke Denman (Venezuela), Alirio J. Zambrano (Venezuela), Morad Tahbaz (Iran), Mark Swidan (China), Jose Angel Pereira (Venezuela), Siamak Namazi (Iran), Baquer Namazi (Iran), Jorge Toledo (Venezuela), Matthew John Heath (Venezuela), [16] [17] Majd Kamalmaz (Syria), Airan Berry (Venezuela), Paul Whelan (security director) (Russia), Shahab Dalili (Iran) Kai Li (businessman) (China), and Paul Rusesabagina (Rwanda). [18] The image of Eyvin Hernandez was added to the mural in October. [19] [20]

Isaac Campbell, an artist from Iowa, spent months creating the mural using paper, water, flour and sugar. [21] [22] Campbell spoke to symbolism of the mural: "It is going to be subjected to the elements, both natural and human. It is going to rip. It is going to tear. It is going fade. All those things are going to happen. That is a really important metaphor for the time that these families have been experiencing in a way that we can begin to think about the pressure that they are under and how time is an important factor in their lives.” [18]

Members of the Women's National Basketball Association's New York Liberty attended an event unveiling the mural, including Coach Sandy Brondello, Stefanie Dolson, Rebecca Allen (basketball), Sami Whitcomb, Jocelyn Willoughby, and Marine Johannès. [13] [23] Washington Mystics players Natasha Cloud and Elizabeth Williams were also present. [13] [24] Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger D. Carstens attended the ceremony. [25] [26] United States Department of State spokesperson Ned Price called the mural: "a powerful symbol of those who have been deprived and taken from their loved ones." [27]

Image projections

In September 2022, the campaign projected images of their family members who are detained abroad on New York City buildings. The images included a call to action for President Biden. [28] The Campaign displayed the projections during the 77th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, which President Joe Biden attended. [28]

Response

Releases

In October 2022, BOFH held a welcome home event to celebrate the release of seven members of the campaign: Mark Frerichs, Baquer Namazi, Matthew John Heath, Jorge Toledo, Alirio Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano, and Jose Pereira. [19] Jonathan Franks, a spokesperson for the campaign, said of exchange that freed seven Americans in Venezuela: "We applaud President Biden for having the courage to make this deal and encourage him and the administration to continue building upon the momentum." [29] [30] [31]

Executive order

In July 2022, President Biden signed an executive order intended to increase the flow of information to Americans detained abroad and sanction those responsible for wrongfully detaining Americans abroad. [32] [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brittney Griner</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Brittney Yvette Griner is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's national basketball team and a six-time WNBA All-Star. She was additionally named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antony Blinken</span> U.S. Secretary of State since 2021

Antony John Blinken is an American lawyer and diplomat currently serving as the 71st United States secretary of state. He previously served as deputy national security advisor from 2013 to 2015 and deputy secretary of state from 2015 to 2017 under President Barack Obama. Blinken was previously national security advisor to then-Vice President Joe Biden from 2009 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Whelan (security director)</span> American detained in Russia (born 1970)

Paul Nicholas Whelan is a Canadian-born former United States Marine with U.S., British, Irish, and Canadian citizenship. He was arrested in Russia on December 28, 2018, and accused of spying. On June 15, 2020, he received a 16-year prison sentence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Majd Kamalmaz</span> American psychotherapist

Majd Kamalmaz was a Syrian-American psychotherapist from Arlington, Virginia, who was detained in Syria in February 2017 and held until his death was announced on May 18, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs</span> US Special office

The special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, or more formally the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, was established in 2015, by an executive order pertaining to the recovery of U.S. hostages held by non-state actors and of U.S. citizens wrongfully detained by foreign states. The Special Presidential Envoy leads and coordinates activities across the Executive Branch to bring home those Americans. The position was created in 2015 during the Obama administration.

Siamak Namazi is an Iranian-American businessman. He had been detained in Evin Prison in Iran from October 13, 2015, until his release.

Mohammad Baquer Namazi is an Iranian-American former civil servant who served as Governor of Khuzestan Province under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He was imprisoned in Iran from 2016 until 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger D. Carstens</span> American diplomat

Roger Dean Carstens is an American diplomat and retired United States Army Special Forces lieutenant colonel. Carstens has served as the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs (SPEHA) since 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidency of Joe Biden</span> U.S. presidential administration from 2021 to present

Joe Biden's tenure as the 46th president of the United States began with his inauguration on January 20, 2021. Biden, a Democrat from Delaware who previously served as vice president for two terms under President Barack Obama, took office following his victory in the 2020 presidential election over Republican incumbent president Donald Trump. Upon his inauguration, he became the oldest president in American history, breaking the record set by Ronald Reagan.

Matthew John Heath is an honorably discharged U.S. Marine Corps veteran, security consultant, and commentator. He took part in the early battles of the Iraq War and was highly decorated for actions taken in the Battle of Nasiriyah. Heath specialized in communication and signals intelligence. After leaving the military in 2004, he began work as a security consultant for the U.S. Govt. On September 9, 2020, Heath was arrested by the government of Venezuela and subsequently charged with offenses related to treason, terrorism and arms trafficking. Following his arrest, his family engaged in a public advocacy campaign in order to secure his release from Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emad Shargi</span> Iranian-American businessman and political prisoner

Emad Shargi is an Iranian-American businessman. On April 23, 2018, during a trip to Iran, Shargi and his wife were taken into custody by Iranian authorities and held in Evin prison. Emad Shargi was taken to a Tehran court on November 30, 2020, where he was informed that he had been convicted of espionage without a trial and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Iran does not recognize dual citizenship, depriving prisoners like Shargi of consular assistance and diplomatic access.

The Citgo Six is the name by which six senior executives of Citgo, detained in Venezuela, are known. Citgo is a subsidiary of the state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

Eyvin Hernandez is a Salvadoran American lawyer who works in the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office in California. Hernandez was imprisoned in Venezuela after being arrested by Venezuelan military agents in March 2022. He was released on December 20, 2023.

Kai Li is an American businessman who has been detained in China since 2016. The United States government considers Li to be wrongfully detained under the Levinson Act. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Li's detention to be arbitrary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viktor Bout–Brittney Griner prisoner exchange</span> 2022 deal between Russia and the US

On December 8, 2022, Russia and the United States conducted a prisoner exchange, trading Brittney Griner, an American basketball player, for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer. Griner, a WNBA champion star and Team USA Olympic athlete, had been convicted of smuggling and possession of cannabis in Russia earlier in 2022 and sentenced to nine years in prison. Bout had been arrested in Thailand in 2008 and transferred to the custody of the United States, where he was convicted of terrorism-related charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012. The exchange took place at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, following months of negotiations.

Marc Hilliard Fogel is an American schoolteacher who was arrested in August 2021 by Russian authorities for trying to enter Russia with 0.6 ounces (17 g) of medical marijuana. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Mark Swidan is an American who has been detained since 2012 in Jiangmen, China, and given the death penalty for trafficking drugs. In 2019, Swidan was charged with drug trafficking in China and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by a court in Guangdong. On April 14, 2023, the Guangdong court upheld the decision to sentence Swidan to death.

In the Shadows: True Stories of High-Stakes Negotiations to Free Americans Captured Abroad is a non-fiction book by Mickey Bergman, co-authored with Ellis Henican, released on June 4, 2024. The book provides a detailed look into the secretive and high-stakes world of international hostage negotiations.

Jonathan "Jon" Franks is an American advocate and public relations crisis consultant known for his work in securing the release of individuals held hostage or detained abroad. Franks has successfully advocated for the release of numerous Americans detained in various countries, working through public and private channels. Notable cases include: Andrew Tahmooressi, Michael White, Trevor Reed, Taylor Dudley, James Frisvold, Ridge Alkonis, Savoi Wright, among others. Franks provides commentary to the media on cases of Americans held hostage, and hostage diplomacy.

References

  1. ↑ Dandurant, Karen. "James Foley Foundation a partner in DC mural to raise awareness about hostages". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  2. ↑ "Mother of journalist murdered by ISIS discusses how the U.S. handles hostage situations". PBS NewsHour. 2022-07-20. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  3. 1 2 3 Breslow, Jason (2022-08-04). "The families of Americans who are wrongfully detained are very much done being quiet". NPR. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  4. ↑ Daley, Jim (2022-09-29). "Bigger than basketball". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  5. ↑ "Brittney Griner Featured On Mural With Other Americans Detained Abroad". BET. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  6. ↑ "Families Of US Citizens Held Abroad Join Hands For Louder Call On Biden". Iran International. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  7. ↑ Hansler, Jennifer (2022-05-04). "Family members of Americans detained abroad gather to raise awareness and seek meeting with Biden | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  8. ↑ "Dozens of families gather in Washington D.C. for campaign to rescue American hostages". khou.com. May 4, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  9. ↑ Hansler, Jennifer (2022-06-22). "Families of Americans detained abroad call for urgent action from Biden to free their loved ones | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  10. ↑ Knutson, Jacob (2022-06-21). "Families of Americans wrongfully detained by foreign governments press Biden for meeting". Axios. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  11. ↑ Atwood, Jennifer Hansler,Kylie (2022-06-23). "Families of unlawfully detained Americans left with mixed emotions after Blinken tried to reassure them in call | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2022-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "Families of American hostages abroad discouraged after Blinken call - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  13. 1 2 3 "Mural of Brittney Griner, other detained Americans unveiled in Georgetown". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  14. ↑ Pamuk, Humeyra (2022-07-20). "Faces of Americans detained overseas now visible to thousands". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  15. ↑ "A New Mural to Recognize Detained Americans Abroad Is Coming to Georgetown—but It Won't Last Forever - Washingtonian". 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  16. ↑ Ade, David. "Tennessee family calls for U.S. government to show more urgency in release of former Marine". Gray DC. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  17. ↑ Krueger, Kelly Ann. "Knoxville Marine accused of being a spy, released from Venezuela". WVLT. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  18. 1 2 Turner, Tasha (2022-07-22). "Ottumwa native creates art to bring awareness to American hostages, detainees". KTVO. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  19. 1 2 Sands, Peggy (2022-10-17). "Families of Wrongfully Detained Celebrate 7 Newly Freed". The Georgetowner. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  20. ↑ "Family of Los Angeles public defender detained in Venezuela: "Time is of the essence"". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  21. ↑ Bumbaca, Chris. "'Giving a voice to the voiceless:' Mural features Brittney Griner, wrongfully detained Americans". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  22. ↑ Hawk, Emily. "Ottumwa native advocates for release of American hostages, detainees". Ottumwa Courier. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  23. ↑ Zucker, Joseph. "Brittney Griner Featured on Washington D.C. Mural Honoring Americans Detained Abroad". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  24. ↑ Hatfield, Jenn (2022-07-24). "New Brittney Griner mural has Mystics' fingerprints on it". The Next. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  25. ↑ Beermann, Judith. "Bring Our Families Home Mural Unveiled in Georgetown". Georgetown Dish. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  26. ↑ Hansler, Jennifer (2022-07-20). "Families of Americans detained abroad unveil mural of loved ones and call on country not to forget them | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  27. ↑ Koenigs, Patrick. "New mural calls attention to Americans held abroad as loved ones say, 'This doesn't go away'". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  28. 1 2 Meehan, Maureen. "Images Of Americans Detained Abroad Including Brittney Griner Projected On NYC Buildings For Biden And UN To See". Benzinga. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  29. ↑ Pamuk, Humeyra; Spetalnick, Matt (2022-10-01). "Venezuela frees seven jailed Americans in swap for two Maduro relatives". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  30. ↑ "Venezuela releases seven US hostages in exchange for two prisoners". Washington Examiner. 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  31. ↑ "Citgo 6 execs released from Venezuela". Fort Bend Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  32. ↑ Callery, Tim (2022-07-20). "New executive order authorizes sanctions on countries wrongfully detaining US citizens". WMUR. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  33. ↑ Vasquez, Adam Zuvanich, Lucio (2022-07-21). "Citgo 6 families look for Biden's help". Houston Public Media. Retrieved 2022-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.