Daren’s work on hostage diplomacy has been cited by the UK and Australian Parliaments, US Congress, United Nations and news outlets from around the world. Here’s some of his work:
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture
6 February 2025
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture published a report on hostage-taking as a form of torture. Daren made a submission on this topic to the Special Rapporteur which was cited in this report.
Australian Parliament’s Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Reference Committee
28 November 2024
In November 2024, the Australian Parliament’s Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Reference Committee published its report on the wrongful detention of Australian citizens overseas and provided recommendations to the Australian government on how to address this growing problem. Daren made a submission to the Committee a few months earlier providing his own recommendations. The Committee’s report cited Daren’s submission multiple times.
Australian Parliament’s Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Reference Committee
4 September 2024
In June 2024, the Australian Senate launched an inquiry into the wrongful detention of Australian citizens overseas. Since 2022, Daren has been campaigning with the family of Australian citizen, Robert Pether wrongfully imprisoned in Iraq to secure his release. He made a submission to this inquiry which was accepted and published by the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Reference Committee.
US Congressional-Executive Commission on China
10 May 2024
The US Congressional-Executive Commission on China once again cited Daren’s Pod Hostage Diplomacy podcast interview with Harrison Li in their 2023 Annual Report. Harrison Li is the son of American businessman Kai Li from New York who has been wrongfully imprisoned in China since September 2016.
UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee
4 April 2023
On 4 April 2023, the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee published its report titled “Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy”. The report calls for a “zero tolerance approach” to cases of state hostage taking and arbitrary detention. The report finds that the UK government has failed to learn lessons in responding to state hostage taking and has often been too slow - or entirely unwilling - to call out countries guilty of state hostage taking. This report cited evidence submitted by Daren.
American Diplomat Podcast
12 January 2023
Daren talks to (Ret.) US Ambassador Peter Romero and Laura Bennett on their American Diplomat podcast about hostage diplomacy and the US hostage enterprise. Daren also talks about the different types of hostage-takers and how we can end hostage diplomacy.
US Congressional-Executive Commission on China
3 November 2022
The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) was created by the United States Congress in October 2000 with the legislative mandate to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law in China, and to submit an annual report to the President and the Congress. The Commission consists of nine Senators, nine Members of the House of Representatives, and five senior administration officials appointed by the President. The CECC’s 2022 annual report cited Daren’s interview with Harrison Li, son of American businessman, Kai Li currently wrongfully imprisoned in China.
ABC Radio National’s Rear Vision Podcast
21 August 2022
Daren talks to Keri Phillips of Australia’s ABC Radio National Rear Vision podcast about hostage diplomacy. They discuss the role of governments in securing the release of their citizens wrongfully detained abroad and how the media can help.
UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee
15 June 2022
After the release of British citizen, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was held hostage in Iran for almost six years in March 2022, the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) approach to state level hostage situations. Daren who campaigned closely with Nazanin’s family for almost six years to secure her release submitted written evidence to this inquiry which was published by the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Ham & High
1 August 2019
In June 2019, British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her husband, Richard Ratcliffe both went on hunger strike for 15 days to protest her wrongful imprisonment in Iran. Nazanin went on hunger strike in Evin prison in Iran and Richard went on hunger strike in front of the Iranian Embassy in London where he lived in a tent on the pavement outside the embassy entrance. Daren watched over Richard every day during his hunger strike and wrote an article in The Hampstead and Highgate Express (Ham & High) which is Richard and Nazanin’s local newspaper about the amazing and kind people from all walks of life who showed up to help.
Ham & High
29 May 2019
On 23 June 2014, British citizen Andy Tsege was kidnapped in an airport in Yemen on his way to Eritrea. He was abducted by the Ethiopian authorities and wrongfully imprisoned in the country. To make matters worse, he was sentenced to death. Andy’s family did not receive the support they needed from the UK government to secure his release so they started the Free Andy Tsege campaign. After a new government came to power in Ethiopia years later, Andy was released and returned home to his family in the UK. Daren wrote an article in the Ham & High which is a local newspaper in North London about the campaign to secure Andy’s release.
The Independent
5 May 2019
In 2018, Matthew Hedges, a British citizen and academic from Exeter was wrongfully imprisoned in the UAE. He was subjected to around six months of inhumane treatment and solitary confinement which Matthew described as psychological torture. While Matthew was in prison, his wife, Daniela Tejada, campaigned for his freedom from back home in the UK. Daren met Daniela while she was campaigning and he also got to meet Matthew after his release. Daren wrote about Matthew and Daniela’s experience in an article in The Independent to mark the one year anniversary of his wrongful arrest after he was released.
The Independent
3 April 2019
British citizen, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested and wrongfully imprisoned in Iran on 3 April 2016 when she went to the country on holiday to visit her family with her one-year-old daughter, Gabriella. Daren has been campaigning closely with Nazanin’s family to secure her release. On the third anniversary of her captivity, Daren wrote this article in The Independent talking about the Free Nazanin campaign and how people can help bring her home.
Amnesty International UK
5 April 2018
Campaigning to free someone wrongfully imprisoned by a state is a marathon, not a sprint. As an activist for Amnesty International UK, Daren wrote a follow-up blog post for Amnesty on how he and his fellow Amnesty volunteers have persisted in campaigning to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British mother from London wrongfully imprisoned in Iran since 3 April 2016.
Amnesty International UK
10 October 2017
How do you campaign to free someone wrongfully imprisoned abroad by another country? Daren started campaigning to free hostages and the unjustly detained around the world as an activist for Amnesty International UK. He wrote a blog post for Amnesty on how he has been campaigning to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an innocent British mother from London wrongfully imprisoned in Iran since 3 April 2016.
Amnesty International UK
6 September 2017
British grandfather, Kamal Foroughi holds the record for being the longest wrongfully imprisoned EU citizen in Iran. Kamal was the first person Daren started campaigning for as an activist for Amnesty International UK. Daren wrote a blog post for Amnesty, his first ever, on his experience campaigning to free Kamal.
Here are more reports from news outlets and reputable organisations worldwide that have interviewed or quoted Daren:
Deutschlandfunk
16 February 2024
Hostage diplomacy is a growing international security threat. The number of cases have been increasing significantly in recent years. Daren spoke to Gunnar Köhne of German news outlet, Deutschlandfunk about hostage diplomacy and what we can do to combat this threat.
The Daily Beast
13 October 2023
The Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, with its fighters entering communities near the Gaza Strip, killing at least 1,300 people and taking scores of hostages. Daren spoke to Shannon Vavra of The Daily Beast about what can be done by the families as well as their governments to free these hostages.
The World
19 September 2023
The United States secured the release of 5 American citizens held hostage in Iran on 19 September 2023 in a prisoner release deal between the two countries. Daren spoke to The World which is a public radio programme in the US to share his thoughts on the deal and hostage diplomacy.
Agence France-Presse (AFP)
16 September 2023
Hostage diplomacy is a growing problem for the West as more and more of their citizens are being taken hostage by countries like Iran, Russia, China and Venezuela. Daren spoke to AFP and shared his thoughts on what needs to be done to free these hostages and put an end to hostage diplomacy.
United States Institute of Peace
26 May 2023
The United States Institute of Peace maintains a comprehensive website on Iran called “The Iran Primer”. This website profiles current and former detainees in Iran including American and European citizens as well as residents. The Iran Primer quotes Daren’s tweet on British resident, Aras Amiri who was wrongfully imprisoned in Iran.
The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation
22 May 2023
Jose Pereira was wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela for almost five years with his five colleagues. All six men are Americans and they worked for U.S. oil company, CITGO Petroleum. Collectively, they were known as the CITGO 6. The U.S. government designated these men as “wrongfully detained” and secured their release on 1st October 2022 in a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Venezuela. Daren campaigned for their release and interviewed most of their families including Jose’s son, John and Jose himself shortly after his release. In an article for the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, Jose talks about his experience, what needs to be done to end hostage diplomacy and his interview with Daren.
Miami Herald
8 March 2022
Six Americans who work for CITGO Petroleum in the United States have been wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela since November 2017. Collectively these men are known as the “CITGO 6”. The US government designated all six men as “wrongfully detained”. Daren has been campaigning with the families of these men and he has interviewed many of their family members on his Pod Hostage Diplomacy podcast. In March 2022, one of the CITGO 6, Gustavo Cardenas was released. The Miami Herald quoted Daren’s interview on his podcast with Veronica Vadell Weggeman, the daughter of another member of the CITGO 6, Tomeu Vadell.
The Jerusalem Post
8 March 2022
In July 2020, German citizen and United States resident, Jamshid Sharmahd was kidnapped by agents of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence in Dubai and taken to Iran where he is being held hostage to this day. Daren has been campaigning with Jamshid’s daughter, Gazelle Sharmahd to free her father. Daren was one of the individuals who signed an open letter to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock calling on her to intervene and save Jamshid’s life.
Reuters
12 January 2022
British resident and Londoner, Aras Amiri has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran and subjected to a travel ban since 2018. In January 2022, Aras was finally allowed to leave Iran and return to Britain. Reuters quoted a statement Daren made in April 2020 when Aras was temporarily released on furlough.
The National
21 June 2021
83-year-old Australian dual-national, Shokrollah Jebeli has been imprisoned in Iran since January 2020 over a financial dispute. He has serious health issues and requires urgent medical attention. Daren helped Shokrollah’s family raise awareness of his case and his urgent need for medical care by providing a quote to the UAE’s The National news outlet which was published in an article.
The National
22 April 2021
British citizen Mehran Raoof and German citizen Nahid Taghavi have both been held hostage in Iran since 16 October 2020. Their trials in Iran on undisclosed charges are set to start at the same time the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal talks are set to restart. This is unlikely to be a coincidence and Daren provided a quote to The National calling out Iran’s hostage diplomacy and urging the German government to work with the international community to free Nahid unconditionally and immediately.
The National
12 April 2021
Austrian citizens, Massud Mossaheb and Kamran Ghaderi have both been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran for years. Their families wrote an open letter to Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg expressing their disappointment in the Austrian Foreign Ministry’s lack of will to free their loved ones. Daren has been campaigning with these families and they shared this letter with him to post on Twitter. This tweet posted by Daren was quoted in the UAE’s The National in an article.
The Times of Israel
15 December 2020
Austrian citizens held hostage in Iran, Massud Mossaheb and Kamran Ghaderi both developed symptoms of COVID-19 in Evin prison. Daren has been campaigning with their families for years and helped raise awareness of their COVID-19 symptoms on Twitter. Daren’s tweet was quoted by The Times of Israel in an article.
Haaretz
13 December 2020
British-Iranian academic, Kameel Ahmady has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison. On the day his 8-year sentence was announced, Daren posted a tweet on Twitter with this news calling on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to put an end to Iran’s hostage diplomacy. Daren’s tweet was quoted by Israeli news outlet, Haaretz in an article.
Arab News
23 November 2020
German citizen, Nahid Taghavi has been held hostage in Iran since 16 October 2020. Daren started campaigning for her release with Nahid’s daughter, Mariam Claren from the very beginning of the Free Nahid campaign. Daren posted a video on his Twitter account where Mariam described what happened to her mother. Daren’s tweet was quoted by Saudi Arabia’s Arab News in an article.
The Times of London
8 September 2020
Iranian state media accused a British civil servant who was about to start a new post in the British Embassy in Tehran of being a spy. Daren provided a quote to The Times of London on this which was then published in an article.
Reuters
9 April 2020
British resident and Londoner, Aras Amiri has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran since 2018. She was temporarily released on furlough. On the day of her temporary release, Daren tweeted this news and called on the Iranian authorities to let her come home to London to be with her fiancé. This tweet was quoted in an article published by Reuters.
Ham & High
20 March 2020
British citizen, Anoosheh Ashoori has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran since August 2017. His family held a demonstration in front of the UK Foreign Office and Prime Minister’s Office. Daren attended the demonstration and provided a quote where he called on the UK government to pressure the Iranian regime to grant Anoosheh a furlough or release him unconditionally. This was published in an article by the Ham & High, a local newspaper in North London which Daren has written articles for himself.
Ham & High
26 June 2019
In June 2019, British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her husband, Richard Ratcliffe both went on hunger strike for 15 days to protest her wrongful imprisonment in Iran. She has been held hostage in Iran since April 2016. Nazanin went on hunger strike while being held captive in Iran’s Evin Prison and Richard went on hunger strike in front of the Iranian Embassy in London. Daren watched over Richard every day during his hunger strike and gave a quote to The Ham & High stating the British government needs to do more to protect the rights of British citizens overseas.
Ham & High
12 June 2018
12 June 2018 marked 800 days British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held hostage in Iran and also coincided with her daughter, Gabriella’s 4th birthday. Nazanin’s family held a protest outside the UK Foreign Office to call on the British Prime Minister to personally meet Nazanin’s husband, Richard Ratcliffe to discuss his wife’s case. Daren was there with Richard and other members of Nazanin’s family. He gave a quote to The Ham & High calling on the British government to do more to protect British citizens like Nazanin overseas, especially in countries like Iran.
