Lebanese IT Expert's Health Deteriorates in Iran Prison as Beirut Fails to Act
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The family of Nizar Zakka, a Washington-based Lebanese information technology expert, is urging Beirut authorities to press for his release by Iranian authorities after his health deteriorated as a result of his hunger strike.
Zakka, who is the secretary general of the professional computers association of Lebanon (PCA) and the Arab ICT Organization (IJMA3), and vice president of the World IT and Services Alliance (WITSA), was arbitrarily detained in Iran around six months ago.
Zakka mysteriously disappeared in September last year. It was only in late October that the Iranian media announced his arrest on charges of spying.
State TV said at the time Zakka was a “treasure trove” because of “connections with intelligence and military bodies in the U.S.”
He was in Iran after receiving an official invitation to speak at a conference.
In January, four Americans were released from Iranian prison as part of a prisoner exchange deal struck between the U.S. and Iran, but Zakka, whose arrest has been politically motivated, was not among them.
The agreement was the result of 14 months of high-stakes secret negotiations between the two adversaries.
Zakka's health is deteriorating as a result of his hunger strike, his family warned, saying he has not eaten since March 13th.
But the Lebanese government, mainly the foreign ministry, has so far not acted to secure his release.
His brother Ziad has urged Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in an open letter “to help Nizar return to his freedom and family.”
Nizar “is innocent,” he stressed in the letter that was posted on a Facebook support page.
He added that the detainee “has not been allowed to see any representative from the Lebanese Embassy in Tehran, nor the Iranian lawyer appointed for him despite repeated requests by the family.”
G.K.
M.T.
23 March 2016, 15:05
117
But the Lebanese government, mainly the foreign ministry, has so far not acted to secure his release.
One call from the terrorist in dahieh would free this man.
23 March 2016, 15:28
911
a spy for CIA, is a traitor and a criminal, thus the best place for him is jail!
23 March 2016, 15:30
97
but nassrallah is not a spy for iran, a traitor and a criminal.
23 March 2016, 19:13
24
They have divided this country by spreading hatred everywhere. Almost impossible to live with such retarded people.
Pity. Real pity. Fourty years ago the Shi3a were a million times better than today!!!
23 March 2016, 19:43
13
pityful hezbis siding with tehran without even knowing the case just because iran says so rather than standing with a fellow citizen...
once again proof that hezbos do not care about lebanese but just about iran....
24 March 2016, 02:39
02
Shame to look at this case in a sectarian way... I can't believe there are people who still claim they are sane, and judge simple based on pre-set criteria without a second of thinking....
Invited by the vice president of Iran, has been issued an official visa, then he was kidnapped!!!!!!!!!!! In which country in the world could this happen????
