Two former hostages Siamak Namazi and Nizar Zakka finally met for the first time outside the walls of Iran's notorious Evin prison to celebrate Siamak's long awaited return home.

Regarding the wider issue of arbitrary detention of EU citizens, including dual nationals, the EU and Member States discuss these cases discretely and closely coordinate their public statements on them. However, each consular case is different. Consular affairs are primarily a prerogative of Member States, and it is, first and foremost, their to decision how to best approach each case, including whether and to request the EU’s and other Member States’ involvement.

After almost 8 years of unimaginable suffering, Siamak Namazi is finally free, thus ending the cycle of misery and anguish that the the whole Namazi family has been going through ever since both Siamak and his father Baquer were held by the Iranian regime.

At long last, we joyously celebrate and welcome the freedom of Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz and Emad Sharghi from their unlawful detention in Iran in addition to 2 unknown Americans.

Hostage Aid Worldwide and EU Watch sent a joint letter to High Representative and Vice-President Josep Borrell Fontelles in light of recent developments concerning the arrest of Swedish EU official Johan Floderus and the increasing number of EU hostages held in Iran

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Roger Carstens presented Nizar with the special “SPEHA” challenge coin. HAW members and former hostages Alan Gross and Xiyue Wang, and board member Ali Arab also proudly presented Nizar with a token of recognition to commemorate this occasion.