POD HOSTAGE DIPLOMACY

POD HOSTAGE DIPLOMACY

We work to free hostages and the unjustly detained worldwide. Together with their families, we share their stories and let you know how you can help. Host, Daren Nair has been campaigning with many of these families for years and will introduce you to some of the most courageous and resilient people among us, people who have never given up hope, people who will never stop working to reunite their families.

SITREP Pod 4: Free Robert Pether, Australian held in Iraq | Pod Hostage Diplomacy
May 3, 2023

SITREP Pod 4: Free Robert Pether, Australian held in Iraq | Pod Hostage Diplomacy

Last month marked two years since Robert Pether, an Australian citizen and Irish resident, has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iraq. He is a father, a husband and an engineer. Robert and his colleague, Khalid Radwan were both d...

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Free Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, Americans held in Russia | Pod Hostage Diplomacy
April 19, 2023

Free Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, Americans held in Russia | Pod Hostage Diplomacy

American Marine veteran, Paul Whelan and American journalist, Evan Gershkovich are both wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. The United States government has classified both men as “wrongfully detained” and has called for their i...

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SITREP Pod: Free Shahab Dalili, American hostage in Iran | Pod Hostage Diplomacy
March 29, 2023

SITREP Pod: Free Shahab Dalili, American hostage in Iran | Pod Hostage Diplomacy

Shahab Dalili is a United States lawful permanent resident from Virginia. His wife and children are all U.S. citizens. In April 2016, Shahab went to Tehran to attend his father’s funeral. He was then arrested and has been wro...

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Free Cecile Kohler, French hostage in Iran | Pod Hostage Diplomacy
March 15, 2023

Free Cecile Kohler, French hostage in Iran | Pod Hostage Diplomacy

Cecile Kohler is a French teacher and a unionist. She has always dreamed of visiting Iran. Last year, both Cecile and her partner, Jacques Paris visited Iran as tourists during the French school holidays and were arrested on ...

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About the Host

Daren Nair Profile Photo
Daren Nair

Daren Nair is a former Director on the Board of Amnesty International UK. His work on state-sponsored hostage-taking also known as hostage diplomacy has been cited in reports published by the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the Australian Parliament’s Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Reference Committee as well as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Daren has spent the last ten years campaigning with the families of individuals held hostage or unjustly detained by countries such as Iran, Russia, Venezuela, China, Syria and Iraq. Daren created and hosts the Pod Hostage Diplomacy podcast.