The Namazi family issued another statement on April 3rd to mark 2,000 days that Siamak has spent, and continues to spend, in an Iranian prison. Not only has Siamak suffered the loss of his freedom and separation from his loved ones without cause—a painful injustice—he has also endured inhumane treatment, solitary confinement, and physical and psychological torment. Human rights advocates, U.S. officials, and American civil society organizations shared their support for the Namazi family on the terrible occasion and called for the release of Siamak Namazi and the rightful return of father and son home to the United States. Others whose unjust imprisonment overlapped with Siamak’s added their support, including Jason Rezaian and Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert who said Siamak’s release must be a priority of the Biden administration.

While the new Biden administration claims to center human rights in its foreign policy, it has continued policies that exacerbate the human cost of a deadly pandemic and undermine the principles of human rights. The Biden administration inherited the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” policy on Iran, which imposed a cruel sanctions program targeting Iran’s entire financial system in what amounts to the collective punishment of millions of ordinary Iranians.