The Foley Flame: Illuminating Updates 

March 2026

Left: Reza Valizadeh, Right: Kamran Hekmati

SPOTLIGHT: WRONGFUL DETAINEES IN IRAN FACE SEVERE DANGER

With the U.S. and Iran now in open conflict, at least six American nationals wrongfully detained by the Iranian regime face unprecedented danger. Iran has a well-established pattern of exercising “hostage diplomacy,” the reprehensible practice of detaining American nationals for the sole purpose of gaining political leverage. 



Two of these Americans are:

Reza Valizadeh, a 49-year-old journalist and dual Iranian–American national. Reza was detained in March 2024 while visiting his elderly parents. 

Kamran Hekmati, a 61-year-old U.S. citizen of the Jewish faith from New York, where he ran his jewelry business. He was detained in May 2025, while in Iran to attend to a family matter.

Iran Designated "State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention"

On February 27, Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Iran as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention.” This was the first use of the designation following President Donald Trump’s executive order issued in September 2025 which established the designation, and Congress’ subsequent codification of that authority in December of 2025. 



Consequences for regimes that take Americans hostage are essential to establishing effective deterrence, ensuring accountability for captors, and delivering justice for victims. This first use of the State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention designation is a critical milestone toward those aims. In the midst of the ongoing conflict, ensuring the safe release of Americans held hostage in Iran must be the top priority. 

HOSTAGE NEWS

Dennis Coyle Released from Captivity in Afghanistan

The Taliban released American Dennis Coyle, an academic researcher specializing in linguistics and Afghan language communities, on March 24, 2026 after 422 days in captivity. He had been wrongfully detained in Afghanistan since January 2025. The Foley Foundation welcomes his release and is relieved that he is finally reunited with his loved ones.

His freedom follows the State Department’s designation of Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention—a critical step in confronting the Taliban’s use of Americans as leverage.

While we celebrate with Dennis and his family, this work is not finished. The Taliban continues to refuse to acknowledge that it holds Mahmood Shah Habibi, missing since 2022. The family of Paul Edwin Overby Jr., last seen in 2014, also deserves answers, and there are indications that a third American may be held in a private case.



We must sustain this momentum—to secure the return or repatriation of any remaining Americans and to pursue accountability for the Taliban’s cruel use of people for political leverage.

Congressional Briefings Kick Off the 2026 Legislative Cycle

The Foley Foundation began the 2026 policy cycle with a Capitol Hill briefing on January 27, hosted in partnership with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The session featured powerful remarks from Washington Post journalist and former detainee Jason Rezaian and Foley Foundation Founder and President Diane Foley, while Executive Director Benjamin Gray walked attendees through the Foundation’s latest research findings and policy recommendations. The goal: build meaningful momentum behind policies that protect Americans from hostage taking and wrongful detention.

Nearly 40 congressional staffers attended, offering thoughtful questions and demonstrating strong bipartisan interest in addressing these urgent issues.

Following the session, Foley Foundation staff have continued one-on-one engagement with congressional offices across both parties as we work to secure sponsors and co-sponsors for key pieces of legislation central to our mission.

On February 26, the McCain Institute and Senator Peter Welch’s office hosted an additional bipartisan issue briefing for congressional staff. CSIS and JWFLF again participated as part of an ongoing series focused on policy solutions to hostage taking and wrongful detention. Foley Foundation Director of Hostage Advocacy & Research Liz Richards and Executive Director Benjamin Gray both contributed to the discussion, emphasizing the human impact behind these cases and outlining practical steps Congress can take to drive change.

FOUNDATION NEWS

2026 James W. Foley Foley Freedom Awards

MAY 5, 2026

The Foley Foundation invites you to share in our annual event celebrating freedom in memory of James Wright Foley. 

The event honors individuals who demonstrate moral courage and leadership in advancing press freedom, humanitarian action, public service, and hostage recovery. The event brings together senior government officials, diplomats, journalists, business leaders, and philanthropists committed to protecting Americans held hostage and defending press freedom worldwide. 

2026 James W. Foley Freedom Awardees 

Jim once said: “Physical courage is nothing compared to moral courage.” His example challenges all of us to act with conviction. Celebrate with us at the event or by donating. Help us build a safer, freer world. 

 

With your support we are able to: 

• Family Support: Assist families enduring the trauma of hostage-taking by coordinating their advocacy for their loved one’s freedom with government officials. 
• Research: Analyze the international hostage-taking landscape and conduct confidential interviews with families, government officials, and third-party experts to identify victims’ needs, inform nonpartisan government reforms, and advance prevention strategies. 
• Public Advocacy: Provide a platform for hostage families through the media and public forums to reach decision-makers, build public support, and ensure their loved ones are not forgotten. 
• Journalist Safety Education: Equip aspiring journalists, freelancers, and under-resourced newsrooms with the knowledge, tools, and practices needed to stay safe while reporting amid heightened risks. 



U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day Observances

March 9 marked the third annual U.S. Hostage & Wrongful Detainee Day—a national moment to stand with Americans still held abroad, celebrate those who have returned home, and honor the lives of those who did not. This year’s observances included multiple events throughout the week.

The first of these was an official event hosted by the U.S. Department of State at the historic Diplomatic Reception Rooms. Speakers included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler, National Security Council Senior Director for Counterterrorism Dr. Sebastian Gorka, and FBI Deputy Director Christopher Raia. The event—co‑hosted by the Foley Foundation, the McCain Institute, and Hostage US—also featured a powerful panel of returned wrongful detainees and a family member, including Marc Fogel (formerly held in Russia), George Glezmann (held in Afghanistan), and Jonathan Dekel‑Chen, father of Sagui Dekel‑Chen (a former hostage held in Gaza). Each shared deeply moving reflections from their lived experiences. Guests participated in an official flag‑raising, observed from the balcony of the State Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Later in the week, on March 12, the Foley Foundation Board members played key roles in a major U.S.–UK convening on countering hostage‑taking and arbitrary detention. Hosted by the McCain Institute’s Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative and the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, the conference brought together civil society leaders, lawmakers, former political prisoners, and affected families.

Board members Diane Foley, Ambassador Roger Carstens, and Ryan Fayhee served as speakers, underscoring the Foley Foundation’s leadership in advancing policies that protect Americans and hold captor states accountable. By elevating survivor and family voices and promoting unified policy responses, the gathering strengthened the growing international movement demanding freedom and justice for political prisoners and the wrongfully detained.

Leading up to March 9, the Bring Our Families Home Campaign and the Foley Foundation worked to spotlight ongoing cases and encourage Members of Congress to publicly recognize the day—through social media posts, public statements, and remarks on both the House and Senate floors.

As part of outreach in advance of the day, Foley Foundation staff distributed Hostage & Wrongful Detainee Flag pins and provided guidance for congressional offices on how to obtain flags for official display. 

FOLEY FOUNDATION RESEARCH

2025 Hostage-Taking Landscape Report

On March 10, 2026 the Foley Foundation released our latest independent, nonpartisan research analyzing the global threat of international hostage-taking.

Some of the key findings include:

The Foley Foundation's Director of Research and Hostage Advocacy, Elizabeth Richards, presented the report's findings in a webinar. A panel of subject matter experts from across government, the media, and the private sector then explored its implications.

JOURNALIST SAFETY

Student Newsroom Safety Guide Launch

This month, JWFLF proudly launched its new Student Newsroom Safety Guide, created by recent Marquette Foley Fellows under the direction of Tom Durkin. Our partner, Marquette University, helped introduce the Guide by spotlighting it in Marquette Today, giving the project early visibility with supporters and partners.

To ensure the Guide reaches the students who need it most, Tom and Foley Fellow Ruby Mulvaney have begun direct outreach to more than 150 student newsrooms across the country. JWFLF will be amplifying the launch of the Guide through social media and additional messaging to broaden awareness of this new resource.

Fundraiser at Marquette University

In February, Tom Durkin and Diane Foley attended The James, the annual Ruder Foundation celebration at Marquette University. The event raises vital support for JWFLF’s Marquette Foley Fellow Program, which places student fellows at the heart of our Safety Education work. This year, all six Foley Fellows—past and present—joined the gathering, highlighting the strength and continuity of this growing community.

Reporting with Resilience

Managing Director Lauren Walsh and Director of Safety Education Tom Durkin continue to work on developing "Reporting with Resilience," a web-based toolkit for under-resourced newsrooms, freelancers, and student newsrooms. Piloting of the toolkit's initial segment of content will take place in late Spring. 

Tom and Lauren participated in an online discussion with the UVM Community News Service. With over 40 journalism faculty attending, Tom and Lauren discussed the important role that student newsrooms play, especially in covering local news. 

Lauren also shared information about Reporting with Resilience, a web-based toolkit the Foley Foundation is developing with funding from the Knight Foundation. Informed by conversations with experts across the journalism safety spectrum, the toolkit will specifically focus on under-resourced local newsrooms, student newsrooms, and freelancers. The toolkit will address safety education for these groups through the lense of mental health.   

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