Wilson Center Statement on the Release of Siamak Namazi
The Wilson Center welcomes the release of detained Wilson Center alum Siamak Namazi from Iran. The Wilson Center family extends its warmest regards to Mr. Namazi and his family who in turn have been working for his freedom for the past eight years.
The longest-held American prisoner, Siamak Namazi is an Iranian American businessman and a former public policy fellow at the Wilson Center in 2005. He was arrested by Iranian authorities in 2015. His father, Baquer Namazi, who spoke at the Wilson Center on different occasions was detained in 2016 on a trip to Iran to help release his son.
Namazi is one of five American prisoners held in the Islamic Republic's Evin prison.
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