American journalist James Foley was taken hostage by ISIS. Our gov’t refused to negotiate his release. ISIS murdered him. 10 yrs ago, his mother started #FoleyFoundation to inspire moral courage, protect journalists, & free American hostages & wrongful detainees. #JimFoley10Years

Ryan Fayhee, Foley Foundation Board member and attorney for Reza Valizadeh—who has been wrongfully detained by the Iranian regime for nearly two years—joined @MeetThePress with Kristen Welker today. He emphasized that Reza is being held unjustly for his work as a journalist and urged the U.S. government to prioritize his release. Reza remains imprisoned in Tehran’s Evin Prison and continues to face serious health concerns while in detention. Full segment linked below 👇 nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/v… #BringThemHome #Iran #HostageDiplomacy

CPJ calls on Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, who has spent more than a year imprisoned in Iran, enduring severe psychological torment and relentless interrogations for simply doing his job. Read the article from @Emilylgoodin ⤵️ nypost.com/2026/06/10/us-new… #journalismisnotacrime #FreeReza @freerezav

Today, the Foley Foundation announced updates to our James W. Foley Journalism Safety Modules. With content on protest coverage, reporting abroad, legal rights, and a new module on covering immigration issues, these resources reflect the real challenges journalists face today. Explore the updated modules at: jamesfoleyfoundation.org/jou… Read the press release in entirety here: jamesfoleyfoundation.org/pre…

The family of Kamran Hekmati, an American citizen wrongfully detained in Iran, sent a letter Tuesday night to President Trump, the State Department, the National Security Council & other senior government officials pleading to make his release a condition of any deal with Iran. The Hekmati family’s plea comes after Trump vowed in an interview over the weekend to bring home all Americans held hostage in Iran. @POTUS @SusieWiles47 @SecRubio @SebGorka @StateSPEHA @aboehler @SEPeaceMissions @jaredkushner @margbrennan @kwelkernbc nypost.com/2026/06/10/us-new…

The Taliban commander who abducted @RohdeD is sentenced to 42 years in prison after pleading guilty to hostage taking and providing material support for terrorism. @ColinRMoynihan nytimes.com/2026/06/09/nyreg…

🔥 The Foley Flame - June Edition Is Here! 🔥 Our latest newsletter is now live, and it’s filled with important updates from across the Foley Foundation’s work. In this issue, we spotlight Olga Jezler, a U.S. legal permanent resident wrongfully detained in Russia for four years, and why her case highlights urgent gaps in U.S. policy. We also celebrate several recent hostage releases, share new insights from our research, and highlight advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill during Hostage Week. You’ll also find updates on: • Our journalist safety initiatives • The 2026 Foley Freedom Awards • Foundation events from D.C. to the Oslo Freedom Forum • Diane Foley’s honorary degree from Seton Hall University There’s a lot happening and we’re grateful to share this work with you! 📬 Read the full June issue of The Foley Flame here: conta.cc/3Q7uy67 #FoleyFoundation #TheFoleyFlame #JournalistSafety #BringThemHome #HostageAdvocacy #MoralCourage

The ordeal of unjust detention does not end when a returnee comes home. SPEHA’s Dr. Young Hoang spoke at the @OsloFF Conference about the importance of post-return support for those unjustly detained and how the U.S. helps returnees rebuild their lives after detention. Governments, NGOs, advocates, and communities can work together to better support returnee’s journey toward recovery.

Can you please help me get this message to @kwelkernbc @MeetThePress? We need to make sure she knows the names of our Americans being wrongfully detained in Iran. During her interview yesterday w/@POTUS @realDonaldTrump, he said “if you give me the names I’ll do my best to get them home.” HUGE missed opportunity that Kristen Welker did not at least tell him the names of Kamran Hekmati and Reza Valizadeh. Both have been wrongfully detained in Iran, Kamran since 2025 and Reza since 2024, & both have been designated as such by @SecRubio @StateSPEHA. Reza & Kamran are not the only ones - there are other Americans also being detained in Iran whose cases aren’t public We need to make sure that journalists like Kristen Welker know this. @JamesFoleyFund is tracking these cases and is a great resource.

Kamran Hekmati and Reza Valizadeh have both been detained in Iran for more than a year. There are mounting concerns about their health and well-being. cnn.com/2026/06/07/world/liv…

I am appealing to President @realDonaldTrump and Secretary @SecRubio on behalf of my husband, Andre Khachatoorian @freeandrekhach , who has been wrongfully detained in Russia for more than four years. His health has deteriorated. #BringAndreHome PLEASE @aboehler

The Foley Foundation is grateful for the continued attention from the press on Americans unjustly held abroad. In an exchange with Kristen Welker of Meet the Press, the President expressed uncertainty as to whether Americans are being held by the Iranian regime. Extensive public reporting indicates that multiple Americans are unjustly held in Iran, including Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati—both formally designated by the administration as wrongfully detained—along with at least three additional cases we are tracking. Some outlets have reported as many as six in total. We have shared the details of the cases we know directly with @StateDept and @NSC. The administration has rightly designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention, reflecting its long-standing pattern of hostage-taking of Americans. This designation applies when Americans are actively held by foreign governments. Amid renewed tensions and ceasefire violations, however, these cases risk being overshadowed. For families, every public signal matters—and many are understandably concerned. We respectfully urge sustained action to secure the release of all Americans held in Iran. Their loved ones are counting on continued U.S. leadership to bring them home. #BringThemHome #WrongfulDetention #HostageDiplomacy #Iran @BOFHcampaign @SecRubio @StateSPEHA @SebGorka nbcnews.com/politics/donald-…

“Reza is a U.S. citizen, just like you and I, no different. He’s a journalist. And he’s being held in Iran, in Evin Prison, for nothing more than being a journalist.” – Ryan Fayhee (@FayheeRyan), Attorney for an Iranian American journalist Reza Valizadeh and Foley Foundation Board Member Watch in entirety here: newsnationnow.com/world/reza… @freerezav

Wrongfully detained American journalist Reza Valizadeh has spoken from captivity in Iran. The Foley Foundation urges renewed diplomatic action to secure his release, and that of at least four other Americans held hostage. Read our full statement below 👇 Tonight at 7 PM Eastern, Foley Foundation Board member and Reza’s attorney, @FayheeRyan, joins NewsNation to discuss Reza’s unjust captivity. Tune in: @freerezav @EVargasTV @NewsNation #BringThemHome #Iran #HostageDiplomacy

The Foley Foundation is proud to share Parisa Salehi’s deeply personal account of discovering, at 11 years old, that her uncle was being held hostage in Iran. Her words shed light on the often unseen toll hostage taking takes on families, especially children. Through confusion, fear, and years of uncertainty, Parisa’s experience reminds us that wrongful detention doesn’t just affect individuals; it ripples through entire families and communities. We’re grateful for Parisa’s courage in sharing her voice! Read Parisa’s story in entirety here: jamesfoleyfoundation.org/mor… (Parisa Salehi is a rising junior at The Madeira School in McLean, Virginia. Her uncle, Emad Shargi, was wrongfully detained in Iran for 1,975 days and was released along with four other Americans in September 2023. Her Mother, @NedaSharghi is a current Foley Foundation Board member and long time supporter of our mission)

#FreeReza!

A message from Reza @CBSNews #freerezav

Congratulations to 2026 James W. Foley UMass Memorial Prize winner Matthew Littwin! This award honors the courage and legacy of Jim Foley, @UMassAmherst MFA alum, writer, and journalist, by supporting voices that reflect political awareness, empathy, and a commitment to stories beyond borders. Matthew’s work carries that spirit forward. Congratulations!

2026 JAMES W. FOLEY FREEDOM AWARDS SPONSOR The Foley Foundation is deeply grateful to the Libertas Foundation for their generous sponsorship of the James W. Foley Freedom Awards. Our mission is to advocate for American hostages and wrongful detainees held abroad and to promote the safety of journalists worldwide. With the support of sponsors like the Libertas Foundation, we are better equipped to carry this mission forward by raising awareness, honoring moral courage, and driving meaningful change. We also extend our sincere thanks to Sandrea Hwang and Mohamed Soltan. Your support strengthens our mission in every way. WWW.FOLEYFREEDOMAWARDS.ORG

Day 1 of the Oslo Freedom Forum is underway at the Oslo Konserthus, where global voices for freedom are beginning to come together. What stories will shape the days ahead? Stream OFF live to follow along → ow.ly/nkxP50Z60qh