Iran still taking hostages to use as bargaining chips

PJ Media:
Families of hostages held by Iran, including Americans, declared in an open letter this week to world leaders, media outlets and human-rights organizations that they "shall remain quiet no longer."

"We come from many countries, with different backgrounds and different perspectives, but we have banded together now to come to you as one voice," they wrote, noting that in September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, "several of our families gathered together for the first time to share stories and struggles about getting our loved ones released."

"We met again a few weeks ago, this time to share our testimonies with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran," they added. "The similarities between our loved ones’ cases is striking. Each story is not just a case of arbitrary detention, but deliberate and tactical moves by the Iranian authorities to secure bargaining chips."
...
The hostages include a Lebanese American man who was invited to Iran to talk about women entrepreneurs.  He was arrested as he was leaving the country after the conference.  It lists other Americans who have been taken hostage.  One thing is clear.  The Iranian government cannot be trusted.  Anyone choosing to travel there is putting their freedom at risk.

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