Emad Shargi

“Pursuant to the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-taking Accountability Act, Section 302(c) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, the U.S. Department of State has determined the government of Iran has wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Emad Shargi. He was arrested on April 23, 2018 and has been prevented from leaving Iran since.”

— Roger D. Carstens, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs

Emad Shargi is an innocent American citizen who has been formally designated by the United States Department of State as “wrongfully detained” in Iran since 2018. This designation indicates that Emad has been taken by the Iranian government because of his American citizenship and to be used as leverage against the U.S. government. He is the loving husband of 25 years to Bahareh and the cherished father to two daughters, Ariana and Hannah. Emad was visiting Iran with his wife and staying with her family in Tehran when the home he was staying in was taken over by plain-clothed IRGC officers. He was taken without any explanation to Section 2A of the notorious Evin prison where he was unjustly held for 8 months. For his first 44 days in prison, he was held incommunicado, with no contact or access to the outside world, including family or legal counsel. During his 8-months in Evin prison, Emad was repeatedly interrogated and held in solitary confinement.

Emad was released on bail in December 2018 and subsequently, was issued an official document from the Revolutionary Court declaring his innocence and clearing him of all charges. He was put on a travel ban but assured that he would soon be given his American passport and allowed to return to his  home and to his family in Washington, D.C.

Instead, In November 2020, Emad was suddenly summoned and, without a trial, convicted of false charges of espionage and sentenced to 10 years. Emad is still being held in Evin Prison. Since his conviction, Emad’s family has been actively campaigning for his freedom and making sure no one forgets that he is an innocent American taken hostage simply for being an American.