Babel: Translating the Middle East
Jason Rezaian: The Rise of Hostage Taking
Jul 25, 2023
Jason Rezaian, former hostage and co-executive director of the CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention, discusses the rise of hostage-taking by hostile governments and groups. They explore the motivations behind it and the inadequacy of the international response. They also discuss the case of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a kidnapped Princeton grad student in Iraq, and the broader issue of wrongful detention. The podcast examines the reasons behind the increase in hostage-taking, the challenges faced by the US government in dealing with such situations, and the significance of values in advocating for foreign hostages.
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Quick takeaways
- Hostile governments and groups are increasingly imprisoning Americans as leverage against the United States, highlighting the need for a stronger international response.
- Hostage-taking has shifted, with governments directly detaining foreign nationals, leading to an increase in wrongfully detained individuals and the need for accountability.
Deep dives
The Rise of Hostage-Taking by Governments and Groups
Hostage-taking by hostile governments and groups has been on the rise, with Americans often targeted for wrongful detention. This includes cases like WNBA star Brittany Griner's imprisonment in Russia and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerskovich's current captivity. The practice is carried out by using independent judiciaries as a front and then using hostages as leverage to extract concessions. However, there is a lack of international action to deter this behavior, which needs to be addressed.
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