Families detained Americans ask for support and attention

Families detained Americans ask for support and attention

“one of the most challenging experiences” during his detention in Russia was for Marc fogel to become. Fogel, a teacher, was held for three and a half years before he was released in mid -February. He is one of the first American prisoners who were released by President Donald Trump during the second term.

return to Washington, DC

On Wednesday, Fogel returned to Washington, DC - in front of a murals that are shown by the American who are captured abroad. There he joined the families of other prisoners to demand their release. "I am one of the lucky ones, and I want you to know that my family and I will work tirelessly for all of you because we want all your loved ones to be here soon," he said.

a mural for forgotten prisoners

Fogel was one of several Americans who were released from abroad and took part in the unveiling of the mural on Wednesday. This project, the third edition, was organized by the "Bring Our Familie Home Campaign" and created by the artist Isaac Campbell. It shows the ten foot of Americans, which are recorded abroad, on a wall in the Georgetown neighborhood of the capital.

face show

“There is a name for them. Your faces are greater than life, so that they can no longer be ignored," said Scott St. Clair, whose son Joseph St. Clair is detained as a veteran in Venezuela. He is one of the nine Americans who are wrongly recorded there. The murals also show the faces of Ksenia Karelina, Mahmood Habibi, Lucas Hunter, Andre Khachatoorian, David Barnes, Jorge Marcelo Vargas, Robert Gilman, Wilbert Castaneda, Youras Ziangovich, Shahab Dalili and Zack Shahin. Karelina and Ziangovich were both released- Ziiankovich was released on the day, on which the mural unveiled was .

The voice of the relatives

The families of those whose faces can now be seen and which are captured in countries such as Venezuela, Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, reported the pain caused by their relatives. "Imagine that someone you love with all of your heart is locked up in a cage, without light, without a window, isolated, full of pain and completely unsure whether you will ever be free. Unfortunately, this nightmare is our everyday reality," said the granddaughter of Vargas, a US citizen who is held in Venezuela

appeal to the US government

The families called the US government to do everything in their power in order to bring their relatives home. "Please, Mr. President, members of the congress, use your authority, your voices, your determination. Let the world know that America does not let its citizens down," emphasized Patti St. Clair.