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Daren Nair

@darennair.bsky.social

56 followers 39 following 47 posts

Security consultant and host of Pod Hostage Diplomacy. Working to free hostages and the unjustly detained around the world. https://www.darennair.com/

www.darennair.com

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Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Nov 17

Pod Hostage Diplomacy works to free hostages and the unjustly detained around the world. Together with their families, we share their stories and let you know how you can help bring them home.
www.podhostagediplomacy.com

Watch our video below to learn who we are and what we do:
youtu.be/bQj_ux9hL18

Who we are and what we do | Pod Hostage Diplomacy

YouTube video by POD HOSTAGE DIPLOMACY

youtu.be

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Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · May 15

France will file a case at the World Court on Friday against Iran for violating the right to consular protection.

The purpose is to pressure #Iran over the detention of two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, held captive for 3 years.

www.reuters.com/world/france...

France to file case against Iran over citizens' detention

France will file a case at the World Court on Friday against Iran for violating the right to consular protection, foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said on Thursday, a bid to pressure Iran over the detention of two French citizens.

www.reuters.com

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Apr 17

Australian citizen and Irish resident, Robert Pether has been wrongfully imprisoned in #Iraq since 7 April 2021.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has called for Robert's immediate release.

Learn more about Robert's case here:
www.podhostagediplomacy.com/sitrep-pod-f...

SITREP Pod: Free Robert Pether, Australian held in Iraq | Pod Hostage Diplomacy

Robert Pether and his colleague, Khalid Radwan were both detained in Baghdad on 7 April 2021 after they went to Iraq to resolve a business dispute between the Iraqi…

www.podhostagediplomacy.com

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Apr 17

Australians will go to the polls on 3 May 2025 to vote for their next government. Who will become the next Australian Prime Minister?

Who will bring home Australian citizen Robert Pether who has been wrongfully imprisoned in #Iraq since 7 April 2021? #FreeRobertPether

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Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Apr 7

Today marks 4 years since Australian citizen and Irish resident, Robert Pether has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iraq.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has called for his immediate release.

The Australian Gov must #FreeRobertPether now.
www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-n...

Irish wife of man locked up in Iraqi prison tells of pain on fourth anniversary

Construction engineer Robert Pether was jailed in Baghdad in 2021, with his wife, Roscommon native Desree Pether, saying her family "are facing the fact we may never see him again"

www.irishmirror.ie

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Apr 4

The American children of a British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds held captive by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime appealed Wednesday to President Trump in a video, asking for his help in securing their release.

www.cbsnews.com/news/america...

American children of British couple in Taliban captivity appeal directly to Trump

Britons Peter and Barbie Reynolds, both in their 70s, were detained by the Taliban on Feb. 1.

www.cbsnews.com

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Mar 29

Faye Hall, a US citizen detained in #Afghanistan in February by the Taliban administration has been released. Hall was arrested together with a British couple, Barbie and Peter Reynolds.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

US citizen detained in Afghanistan by Taliban released to Qatari embassy

Faye Hall had been detained since February along with a British couple before a court order led to her release

www.theguardian.com

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Mar 20

George Glezmann, an American citizen who has spent more than two years in detention in Afghanistan was released on Thursday, and is now on his way to the United States, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/03/...

George Glezmann, US citizen detained by Taliban in Afghanistan is freed in deal mediated by Qatar | CNN

George Glezmann, an American citizen who has spent more than two years in detention in Afghanistan was released on Thursday and is now on his way to the United States, a source with knowledge of the s...

amp.cnn.com

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Mar 20

French citizen, Olivier Grondeau who was held hostage in #Iran for 887 days has been freed and is now back home. Sadly, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris were left behind. I’m so happy for Olivier and his family and hope Cecile and Jacques are freed soon too.

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Mar 16

“As the battle continues to secure Mr Pether's release, his family now say they will have to sell their home, due to mounting legals bills, estimated to be in the region of €120,000.”
#FreeRobertPether

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Irish family fight for release of father detained in Iraq

The Irish family of an Australian man who had been living in Co Roscommon are fighting for his release after he was detained in Iraq for almost four years accused of stealing money from a project to r...

www.rte.ie

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Mar 16

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture has released a report on hostage-taking as a form or torture. I had the privilege of making a submission on this topic to the Special Rapporteur which she has cited in her report.

www.ohchr.org/en/documents...

A/HRC/58/55: Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: hostage-taking as torture - Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatm...

SummaryIn the present report, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Alice Jill Edwards, addresses the crime of hostage‑taking from the perspe...

www.ohchr.org

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Mar 16

Two British pensioners, Peter Reynolds (79) and his wife, Barbie (75) being held in Afghanistan since last month have been moved to a maximum-security prison and separated by the Taliban.

Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle called it a "shocking escalation"

www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...

UK pensioners captured by Taliban being held in separate prisons

Peter and Barbie Reynolds were detained last month in Bamyan, along with an American friend, and taken to Kabul

www.thetimes.com

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Mar 9

Watch the story of how the United States government secured the release of 7 Americans wrongfully detained in Venezuela on 1 October 2022.
takenoprisoners.media

TAKE NO PRISONERS

Take No Prisoners, a feature documentary premiering at SXSW 2025, delves into the secretive, high-stakes world of hostage rescues, following America’s top envoy as he races to free a young attorney he...

takenoprisoners.media

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Mar 9

Safeguard Defenders has released its new handbook ‘Missing in China’ today in response to the growing number of foreign citizens arbitrarily detained in the authoritarian country.
safeguarddefenders.com/en/blog/miss...

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Feb 24

This appears to be another example of the Iranian regime detaining innocent foreign nationals on false charges to extract a concession from their home country. The concession in this case appears to be a prisoner swap

This is state-sponsored hostage-taking aka hostage diplomacy

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Feb 24

An Iranian national, Mehdi Kiyasti who was detained in The Netherlands after violating US sanctions was also released.

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Feb 24

Dutch citizen, Cees Ljunberg who worked as a tour guide in #Iran has been released from Tehran’s Evin Prison after serving five years of a 10-year sentence, in what appears to be a prisoner swap between both countries.

iranwire.com/en/news/1393...

Dutch Tour Guide Released from Iranian Prison in Apparent Prisoner Swap

Dutch citizen Cees Ljunberg has been released from Tehran’s Evin Prison after serving five years of a 10-year sentence, IranWire has lea ...

iranwire.com

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Feb 24

The Taliban said it will endeavour to release two British nationals, Peter Reynolds, 79 and wife, Barbie, 75 who have been detained in Afghanistan "as soon as possible".

An American national and an Afghan were also arrested alongside the couple.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Taliban says it will try to release British couple as soon as possible

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, both in their 70s, were arrested by the Taliban in early February.

www.bbc.co.uk

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Feb 23

A British couple Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75 have been arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Since 2009 they have been running training projects in five schools in Kabul and one project in Bamiyan training mothers and children.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

British couple in their 70s arrested by Taliban

Peter and Barbie Reynolds were returning to their home in Bamiyan on 1 February when they were detained

www.bbc.co.uk

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Feb 19

Dear UK journalists,

There are currently 4 British citizens held hostage in #Iran:
(1) Craig Foreman
(2) Lindsay Foreman
(3) Mehran Raoof
(4) Nasrin Roshan

I hope our government brings all 4 of them home.
www.iranintl.com/en/202406022...

200 Days in Evin: British-Iranian Woman Jailed for Protesting

Nasrin Roshan, a British-Iranian citizen and political prisoner, has been detained in Iran for over 200 days and is serving a three-year prison sentence in Evin Prison.

www.iranintl.com

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Feb 15

UK-based lawyers for Hong Kong activist, Jimmy Lai have spoken out about being targeted by the Chinese state and its supporters in a campaign of intimidation including surveillance, hacking of bank accounts and rape threats.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

UK-based lawyers for Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai targeted by Chinese state

Exclusive: Barristers at Doughty Street Chambers say they have been subject to surveillance, hacking and rape threats

www.theguardian.com

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Feb 15

"Yes, we're aware of the risks," she wrote.

"But we also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

British couple held in Iran named as family urge safe return

Craig and Lindsay Foreman were travelling through Iran as part of a motorbike trip across the world.

www.bbc.co.uk

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Feb 15

British couple held in #Iran named as Craig and Lindsay Foreman. The couple, in their early 50s, who were on a trip across the world on motorbikes, were arrested in January.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

British couple held in Iran named as family urge safe return

Craig and Lindsay Foreman were travelling through Iran as part of a motorbike trip across the world.

www.bbc.co.uk

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Jan 21

American Ryan Corbett held in Afghanistan has been freed!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

US trades Taliban prisoner for American detainees Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty - BBC News

Two Americans held by the Taliban were exchanged for an Afghan imprisoned in the US on narco-terrorism charges.

www.bbc.co.uk

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Jan 16

"We trust that Prime Minister Meloni and the ministers will work with the same commitment and dedication they have shown (with Sala) to protect another Italian, to bring Alberto back to Italy soon, unharmed," Trentini's mother told la Repubblica.

#FreeAlbertoTrentini

Daren Nair @darennair.bsky.social · Jan 16

The arrest took place against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between Italy and Venezuela, after Rome, along with other nations, did not recognise the victory of Nicolas Maduro in the July 2024 presidential elections.

#FreeAlbertoTrentini