Hostage Aid Worldwide
Irish resident had been under travel ban in Baghdad after being let out of prison a year ago
Media Defence has filed an urgent appeal with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention over the abduction, rendition and detention of Nguyen Duc Thuan and Tran Hiep, also known as Ho Pham Hiep Huy.
Hostage Aid Worldwide joyfully welcomes the end of Robert Pether’s ordeal in Iraq, after more than five years of arbitrary detention, deteriorating health and a travel ban that kept him from returning home even after his release from prison. The Australian engineer has finally been allowed to leave Iraq and reunite with his wife, Desree, and their three children in Ireland.
The couple, both in their 50s, were sentenced to 10 years in February after Iranian authorities accused them of spying for Britain and Israel.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that lawyer and current Belarus envoy John Coale, who has been credited with the release of hundreds of prisoners, would be his special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that lawyer and current Belarus envoy John Coale, who has been credited with the release of hundreds of prisoners, would be his special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
San Miguel explained that “justice will only be fully realized when due process, human dignity and fundamental rights are guaranteed for all Venezuelans.”
The U.S. Senate passed Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01)’s End Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. This legislation would prevent U.S. citizens who have been taken hostage or wrongfully detained abroad from incurring penalties for late tax payments while they were held.
Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) spoke on the Senate floor tonight ahead of the Senate’s passage by unanimous consent of his bipartisan legislation to protect Americans who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad from facing fines and penalties for failing to pay taxes while in captivity.
In a September 2026 interview with Hostage Aid, former unlawful detainee Renzo Huamanchumo reflected on rebuilding his life after captivity in Venezuela and the long process of healing after returning home. He shared that freedom is not the end of the struggle, but the beginning of a difficult journey of recovery, reconnecting with loved ones, and adjusting to a world that continued moving forward while he was gone. Huamanchumo credited his family, friends, and the hope of seeing his loved ones again for helping him endure the hardest moments of detention. He also discussed the importance of continued support for former hostages and wrongful detainees, including mental health care, physical recovery, and financial assistance. Today, Renzo remains committed to speaking out for those still held captive and advocating for the freedom of others around the world.