Washington D.C. – October 21, 2025 – Hostage Aid Worldwide is proud to announce that its President and Founder, Nizar Zakka, has been awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest honor conferred by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia.
The award ceremony was held at the historic Washington National Cathedral during the Grand Lodge’s annual Day of Thanksgiving Gala on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
In the words of the Grand Master Eric Kushner, “As early as the fight for independence and even before, free masons had figured prominently in the formation of the United States, the writing of the constitution and in the establishment of our form of self governance that we so cherish. Since the beginning and till today Masons bravely fight for freedom on the battlefields across the world and serve with honor and distinction in the seats of government at every level of our nation, in our cities, our towns, our counties, our states. They serve as well in the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches of our federal government. As they have done for centuries, the citizens of our nation impart the importance of freedom to their children and all too often suffer the unimaginable sorrow of their children being killed or maimed in the service of our country in order to preserve that precious freedom that we all hold dear. In the civilian world, men and women from all fields of endeavors continue to work to preserve freedom through countless acts of responsible citizenship, civic duty, and just doing right and respecting others.”
He added that “Freedom being an inherent part of what Freemasonry stands for, from time to time our Grand Lodge votes to recognize an individual who has made conspicuous, lasting contributions to the pursuit and preservation of those freedoms, which has caused our city to be known around the world as the Capital of Liberty and Freedom. Will you all please join me in congratulating an incredible human being who also happens to be one of our own; a free mason from Washington D.C., and help me in awarding our Medal of Freedom to our brother Nizar Zakka.”
In presenting the award, Grand Master Kushner highlighted that “Brother Nizar is President and Co-Founder of Hostage Aid Worldwide. His work on behalf of hostages and wrongfully detained persons represents a singular and noble example of defending human liberty and dignity under the most oppressive and perilous of conditions. Brother Zakka’s advocacy is not born merely in principle. For those of you who know him, he’s a former hostage himself unjustly detained for years. But he transformed that into an inspiration to do good and just and right in the world.
His personal suffering has transformed him into a leader of compassionate action as a global voice for those who have been silenced by authoritarian regimes. Under his devotion and leadership, Hostage Aid Worldwide has become a vital force in the protection of civil liberties, the promotion of human rights, and the defense of human dignity across borders, irrespective of race, creed, or nationality.”
“Through tireless diplomacy, policy development, and advocacy, working with the highest levels of our friends in Europe and allies around the world, including the UN and others and direct support to the families, to the survivors, brother Zakka and his organization have helped secure the release of innocent people held unjustly as political leverage. His work not only restores the physical freedom of those held hostage, but also rekindles hope in the moral consciousness of nations. In so doing, he affirms the truth long-held by the initialic society of freemasonry. And that is, freedom is not granted but it is defended. It is not theoretical, but must be lived everyday. Brother Zakka’s life and labors reflect the masonic virtues of fortitude, justice, and brotherly love. His unwavering commitment to liberating the oppressed and to ensuring accountability for those who violate the sanctity of personal freedom echoes the ancient charges of our craft to champion truth and to protect the innocent. Will everyone please join me in congratulating brother Nizar Zakka a recognition not only of his past accomplishments but of his undying devotion and enduring leadership to further pursue the cause of liberty and justice.” said Grand Master Kushner.
Hostage Aid is deeply honored to receive this prestigious recognition from the Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. This acknowledgment not only reaffirms our unwavering mission to disrupt the hostage-taking business model but also strengthens our resolve to ensure that victims of unlawful detention and hostage-taking are never forgotten.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Grand Lodge for recognizing and supporting our vital work in the fight for freedom against this inhumane practice.
