Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced a resolution today in the U.S. House of Representatives calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Haleh Esfandiari, a U.S. citizen and resident of Potomac, Maryland. Iranian officials have arrested Dr. Esfandiari on trumped-up charges that she attempted to overthrow the government of Iran.
Dr. Esfandiari is the Director of the Middle Eastern Program of the Smithsonian’s Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. While visiting her 93-year old mother, Dr. Esfandiari was taken into custody, interrogated, and eventually imprisoned without formal charges. She has been held in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison since May 7, 2007.
“Dr. Esfandiari’s imprisonment shows a gross disregard for the rule of law and belies statements by Iranian government officials that Iran would like to improve relations with the United States,” said Representative Van Hollen.
Representative Van Hollen has urged his Congressional colleagues to join him in passing this resolution to free Dr. Esfandiari and to encourage the U.S. Government to employ all appropriate means to expedite this process.