Families of Americans detained abroad rally at the White House

In a call to action, families of Paul Whelan and recently released Trevor Reed gather to raise awareness

Elizabeth Whelan holds a picture of her brother, Paul, who is currently jailed in Russia. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National

Family members of Iranian-American businessman Emad Shargi, who has been detained in Iran since April 2018, speak in front of the White House.

Ariana Shargi, daughter of Emad Shargi, poses for a photo in front of the White House.

Trevor Reed's father, Joey, and his sister, Taylor, speak to reporters in front of the White House.

Carine Kanimba's father, Paul Rusesabagina, a US permanent resident, has been jailed in Rwanda.

Joey and Taylor Reed speak to reporters about Trevor Reed's release from a Russian prison.

Teymoor and Tara Tahbaz display photos of their father, Morad, who is currently being held in Iran.

A sign hangs at a rally for the families of Americans wrongfully detained abroad.

Bahareh Shargi, whose husband, Emad, is currently being held in Iran, speaks to reporters.

The families of Americans illegally detained abroad gather in front of the White House.

The families of more than a dozen Americans wrongfully detained abroad gathered in front of the White House on Wednesday to bring attention to their loved ones' plights.

The ad hoc group — a “club that no one wants to be in” — is calling on President Joe Biden to do what is necessary to bring their family members home.

“We are very grateful to the administration for all of their communication with the hostage families,” said Ariana Shargi, whose father, Emad Shargi, was detained in Iran in April 2018.

Elizabeth Whelan, sister of US Marine Corps veteran and Russian prisoner Paul Whelan, speaks at a news conference near the White House alongside families of Americans currently being held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas. AP

“We do ask that they keep their promise and that they bring our loved ones home.”

Ms Shargi said much of her adult life has been defined by her father’s wrongful imprisonment.

“It’s been extremely difficult,” Ms Shargi told The National. “It is hard to grow up through your young adulthood without your dad who, throughout my childhood and our childhood was the biggest support in our lives.”

Mr Shargi, an Iranian-American businessman, was detained on espionage charges and is currently being held in Iran’s notorious Evin prison.

He is one of at least four Americans “unlawfully” detained in Iran.

The family of Morad Tahbaz, a British-American environmentalist jailed in Iran for more than four years, said they are “begging the Biden administration to pull through and help prioritise bringing him home”.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe reunited with her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, and their daughter, Gabriella, after being held for six years in Iran. Photo: @TulipSiddiq via Twitter

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, centre, with their families. Photo: @lilika49 via Twitter

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her daughter at RAF Brize Norton airbase. EPA

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her daughter Gabriella, husband Richard and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss at RAF Brize Norton. EPA

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were released in March 2022. Reuters

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori with the cabin crew in Brize Norton. Reuters

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori as their plane flies over London. Reuters

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe sits in a plane en route to London after taking off from Teheran. Reuters

Mr Ashoori gestures as he sits in the plane heading to London. Reuters

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in Tehran in April 2016 as she prepared to fly back to the UK, having taken her daughter Gabriella to see relatives. AFP

She was accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government and sentenced to five years in jail, spending four years in Tehran’s Evin Prison and one under house arrest. Photo: Tulip Siddiq / Twitter

Richard Ratcliffe with daughter Gabriella outside their house in London on Wednesday. AFP

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori arrive in Oman en route to the UK. Photo: @badralbusaidi / Twitter

Mr Ratcliffe went on a hunger strike in October 2021 in protest at the UK government’s failure to secure his wife's release. AFP

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe boards a plane as she prepares to leave Tehran. Reuters

Mr Ratcliffe told the media that the family plan to find solace elsewhere for a few days. Reuters

Gabriella was not yet two when her mother was arrested. Photo: Tulip Siddiq / Twitter

Mr Tahbaz’s daughter, Tara, said the family feels abandoned by the UK government, especially after the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, both British citizens who had been jailed in Iran for years.

“My father was abandoned,” Ms Tahbaz told The National.

“It’s like a really long nightmare,” said Mr Tahbaz’s son, Teymoor.

“You’re really just living everyday hoping at the end of the day you’re getting a phone call saying, ‘hey your father is on a plane and he’s on his way home’ but sadly that day has not yet come.”

That day did come for Joey Reed, whose son, Trevor, was released last week from a Russian prison through a prisoner exchange.

Mr Reed said Trevor, who is recovering from his ordeal at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas, demanded that the family be present in Washington for Wednesday's event to support the other families of wrongfully detained Americans.

“It's a little embarrassing because Trevor has now been freed,” said Mr Reed. “And you know, and they're feeling left out, but we just want to assure him that that's why we came here is to speak about Trevor's success in being released and that we want that for all of them and we're here with them even though Trevor has already been released.”

He said the US government needs stronger legislation that dictates how the US helps wrongfully detained citizens abroad.

“We need to codify it so that politics don't come into it,” he told The National.

Despite being from different parts of the US, with loved one being held in several countries around the world, there was a palpable camaraderie among the families demonstrating in front of the White House.

“It's really incredible,” said Ms Shargi. “Everyone here supports each other, and no one really knows what we're going through quite like we do.”

Phoenix Mercury centre Brittney Griner during the first half of Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky. AP

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil. AFP

Griner leaving a courtroom after a hearing in May. The Phoenix Mercury star, considered in some polls to be the US’s most gifted female athlete, could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. AP

Griner asked US President Joe Biden to free her from a Russian prison in a handwritten letter on July 4, 2022, portions of which were made public by her family. AFP

Grineris escorted before a court hearing in Khimki outside Moscow, Russia on July 1, 2022. Reuters

The US stepped up its push in March for consular access to Griner, who is detained in Russia on allegations of drug smuggling. AP

Griner at the White House alongside teammates. Photo: US National Archives

Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates with fans. Getty Images North America / AFP

A man holds a sign for Brittney Griner Home during the first half of the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. EPA

Griner, a player of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury team was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after some hash oil was detected and found in her luggage, for which she now could face a prison sentence of up to ten years. EPA

Fans hold signs Griner during the first half of the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. EPA

A sign for Griner is displayed during a game between Portland Thorns FC and Angel City FC at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images / AFP

The Khimki City Court reportedly had extended Greiner's detention for the duration of her trial on charges of drug smuggling that started on 01 July. EPA

Griner gestures during a game against Australia at Saitama Super Arena in their Tokyo 2020 Olympic women's basketball quarterfinal game in Saitama, Japan August 4, 2021. Reuters

Dallas Wings' Marina Mabrey wears shoes that have a "BG" logo on them, a reference to Brittney Griner, during the second half of the team's WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. AP

"We Are BG 42" is displayed on the exterior of Footprint Center before the WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx on June 21, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Getty Images / AFP

Minnesota Lynx's Aerial Powers wears a shirt in support of Griner during introductions for the team's WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm. Star Tribune / AP

Griner poses with her gold medal in Women's Basketball at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, August 8, 2021. Reuters

Brittney Griner with teammates Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins posing for pictures with their gold medals on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's basketball competition of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. AFP