Many of our readers have seen the open letter recently published in the New York Times by Siamak Namazi, son of our colleague, Baquer Namazi.
This week a group of XUNICEF members prepared a letter to President Biden supporting that call. As you will see from the draft letter, the members of the group are appealing for the President to do all possible in ongoing negotiations to obtain Siamak's freedom and permission to travel for both Baquer and Siamak.
This week a group of XUNICEF members prepared a letter to President Biden supporting that call. As you will see from the draft letter, the members of the group are appealing for the President to do all possible in ongoing negotiations to obtain Siamak's freedom and permission to travel for both Baquer and Siamak.
While many members of XUNICEF around the world will want to join in that call, the group felt that a letter to the US President would be stronger if it came from US citizens and residents who are former UNICEF staff. So the group sent out the message below to only the 184 XUNICEF members who appear in our records as US citizens and residents.
So far 54 members have added their names to the list of signatures.
If you are a US citizen or resident and did not receive the message, or if you were unable to open the link to add your signature, please do so now. Simply click on this link and fill in your name as you would like it to appear. Then click 'Submit'. Please do so no later than 20 July 2022. The group hopes to send the letter with the full list of signatures on 22 July.
So far 54 members have added their names to the list of signatures.
If you are a US citizen or resident and did not receive the message, or if you were unable to open the link to add your signature, please do so now. Simply click on this link and fill in your name as you would like it to appear. Then click 'Submit'. Please do so no later than 20 July 2022. The group hopes to send the letter with the full list of signatures on 22 July.
Quote
Mr. Joseph Biden
President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We write to you as fellow Americans who are former UNICEF and UN colleagues of Mr. Baquer Namazi. As you know, Mr. Namazi's son, Siamak Namazi, is the longest held American prisoner in Iran's infamous Evin Prison. Baquer Namazi at age 83 is himself an American who was imprisoned for nearly two years and is forbidden to travel out of Iran for needed medical treatment.
Both Baquer Namazi and Siamak Namazi are American hostages held by Iran in an attempt to win concessions from western sanctions. We urge you and your Administration to take all actions possible to obtain the release of Siamak Namazi from prison and permission for both Baquer and Siamak Namazi to travel out of Iran.
You have no doubt read the open letter by Siamak Namazi published in the New York Times on June 29, 2022. We are sure that you, like all of us, were deeply moved by his words. We cannot know the intricacies of the negotiations between Iran and the United States, but we do know the pain and anguish of Siamak's parents as they witness each day of their son's continued suffering in prison. As a parent and a father, you too must feel this pain.
So, Mr. President, we call on you both as leader of our country and as a father to intervene strongly to win the freedom of Siamak Namazi and the safe return to the United States of both father and son.
We thank you for your efforts so far and we wish you all success in the difficult challenges you and our nation face in the years ahead.
Sincerely,
Dear Mr. President,
We write to you as fellow Americans who are former UNICEF and UN colleagues of Mr. Baquer Namazi. As you know, Mr. Namazi's son, Siamak Namazi, is the longest held American prisoner in Iran's infamous Evin Prison. Baquer Namazi at age 83 is himself an American who was imprisoned for nearly two years and is forbidden to travel out of Iran for needed medical treatment.
Both Baquer Namazi and Siamak Namazi are American hostages held by Iran in an attempt to win concessions from western sanctions. We urge you and your Administration to take all actions possible to obtain the release of Siamak Namazi from prison and permission for both Baquer and Siamak Namazi to travel out of Iran.
You have no doubt read the open letter by Siamak Namazi published in the New York Times on June 29, 2022. We are sure that you, like all of us, were deeply moved by his words. We cannot know the intricacies of the negotiations between Iran and the United States, but we do know the pain and anguish of Siamak's parents as they witness each day of their son's continued suffering in prison. As a parent and a father, you too must feel this pain.
So, Mr. President, we call on you both as leader of our country and as a father to intervene strongly to win the freedom of Siamak Namazi and the safe return to the United States of both father and son.
We thank you for your efforts so far and we wish you all success in the difficult challenges you and our nation face in the years ahead.
Sincerely,
List of signatures - alphabetical by last name
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