|
The Foley Flame: Illuminating Updates
June 2026
| | |
This month marks four years since Olga Jezler, a U.S. legal permanent resident, was wrongfully detained in Russia. Arrested on baseless drug trafficking charges after traveling to care for her sister, Olga’s case is not an isolated incident, it is emblematic of a broader pattern in which Americans have been detained on spurious charges amid rising geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Several Americans remain held today under similar circumstances, raising serious concerns about the misuse of the Russian legal system for political leverage.
Despite clear indicators that Olga meets the criteria for wrongful detention under U.S. law, she has not been officially designated as such, leaving her without the full support and advocacy this status provides. This lack of designation can significantly limit coordination, transparency, and the resources brought to bear on securing her release, not only in Olga’s case, but in others like it.
For Olga and fellow Americans still detained in Russia, designation is not symbolic; it is a critical step toward elevating their cases and bringing them home. Her situation also underscores ongoing gaps in how the U.S. government responds to wrongful detentions, particularly for legal permanent residents.
| | |
Released on March 24 after 421 days of wrongful detention in Afghanistan.
| |  | |
Released on April 7 after being held 7 days by an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq.
| | | Photo credit: United Nations / John Gillespie | |
Released on April 26 following 48 days of wrongful detention in Kuwait.
| | | |
Released on May 19 after 3,690 days of wrongful detention in Iran.
| | | Don't Forget our Hostages | | Foley Foundation Research: The Importance of Former Hostage Reintegration | | |
“…the day you get back is the day your worries start.” —Former wrongful detainee
Reintegration is critical as returnees rebuild their lives after the injustice they have experienced. There is, however, a dearth of literature focused on civilians' experiences following hostage-taking or wrongful detention. Additionally, three critical legislative measures that would begin to address key challenges facing returnees have not yet passed Congress including the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, the Fair Credit for American Hostages Act and the Retirement Security for American Hostages Act.
Because these gaps have remained largely unaddressed, the Foley Foundation research team, led by Director of Hostage Advocacy and Research Elizabeth Richards, is focusing on the needs of returnees for its fall 2026 Bringing Americans Home research report. The team recently concluded interviews with 21 returnees on their experiences with reintegration, including topics such as physical and mental health, employment, social support, and justice including captor accountability. The team is analyzing the data before developing recommendations in consultation with stakeholders. The Foundation anticipates publishing this latest report in September.
| | Parisa Salehi and her uncle, Emad Shargi | | The Foley Foundation is proud to share Parisa Salehi’s personal account of discovering that her uncle was a hostage in Iran. | | |
"I Googled My Uncle. That’s How I Found Out He Was a Hostage"
By Parisa Salehi
| | |
I found out from Google that my uncle was being held hostage in Iran. At 11 years old, I was intrigued by researching each of my family members online. And that’s how it happened – as I sat at my corner desk on the family desktop computer, I googled “Emad Shargi.” One key word caught my eye: “arrested.” Suddenly, I found myself living in a familial web of confusion and distress. For three years, I had been misled by the idea that my uncle was living peacefully in Iran, his motherland, and was solely waiting for his passport issues to be resolved so he could come back home to Washington, DC.
| | The Foley Foundation's Journalist Safety Program unveiled a proposed logo for its web-based Reporting with Resilience toolkit, which is being developed with funding from the Knight Foundation. The toolkit is designed to serve under-resourced local newsrooms, student newsrooms, and freelancers. It will address safety education for these audiences through a mental health lens. The team expects to release the first segment this fall. | | 2026 James W. Foley Freedom Awards | | |
Every year, at the James W. Foley Freedom Awards, we come together in Jim's name to fight for journalist safety, to stand with hostage families, and to honor those who refuse to be silenced. The 2026 ceremony was held on May 5.
If you missed it, you can watch the entire event or honoree impact videos by clicking on the button below.
| | Bringing Hostage Families’ Voices to the Halls of Congress | | Picture credit: Isaac Campbell | | |
During “Hostage Week,” the Bring Our Families Home (BOFH) Campaign—supported by the Foley Foundation—brought the stories of 11 Americans unjustly held abroad directly to Capitol Hill through a powerful exhibit and coordinated advocacy. The effort reflects a growing shift from awareness to action, as families and advocates work with Congress to advance reforms addressing the real needs of those impacted by hostage-taking.
From improving the wrongful detention designation process to strengthening support for families and returning captives, this work is helping shape a more responsive policy framework.
Read more about the exhibit, the advocacy behind it, and the policy solutions now gaining traction by clicking on the button below.
| | ASU+GSV Summit: San Diego, CA | April 12-15 | | |
The Foley Foundation was proud to be represented at the ASU+GSV Summit in April in San Diego by President and Founder Diane Foley, and Director of Development Salma Nabi.
Diane spoke on a panel with April Montgomery-Goble, moderated by award-winning former CNN correspondent and current MS Now national reporter Rosa Flores. The discussion explored Jim’s legacy of moral courage through a conversation about the book American Mother, authored by Colum McCann and Diane Foley.
The Summit provided a valuable opportunity to engage with leaders across education, innovation, and social impact, and to highlight the importance of moral courage for the next generation.
The ASU+GSV Summit is a collaboration between Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley.
| | Foley Freedom Panel: Fireside Chat, Washington D.C. May 4 | | |
As part of "Hostage Week," the Foley Foundation convened a discussion focused on the human impact of hostage-taking, the challenges families face during captivity, and the ongoing work required to bring Americans home. Planned by Director of Development Salma Nabi and hosted by Board member Ryan Fayhee at his firm Akin's offices in Washington, D.C., the event centered on the lived experiences of hostage families and the advocacy efforts that support them.
The Foundation thanks Holly Newman Kroft for thoughtfully moderating the conversation and helping bring this vision to life. The panel brought together individuals with both personal and professional experience in hostage advocacy, including Diane Foley, Ambassador Roger Carstens, David Levinson, and Hanna Siegel, whose honesty, courage, and insights illuminated the realities faced by hostage families and the importance of continued advocacy.
| | Foley Foundation at the Oslo Freedom Forum | | |
From June 1–3, the Foley Foundation joined global human rights leaders at the Oslo Freedom Forum, where a key focus was strengthening international efforts to combat wrongful detention and hostage-taking. As governments face increasing use of these tactics by authoritarian regimes, collaboration among NGOs and policymakers is more critical than ever.
At the Forum, Executive Director Benjamin Gray engaged with partners in the RIGHT coalition, an NGO network advocating for pubic policy reforms to better support hostage families, secure releases, and hold perpetrators accountable while also coordinating advocacy on individual cases. The Foundation continues to play a leading role in shaping policy solutions that translate advocacy into real-world action.
These discussions underscored growing momentum for stronger international alignment—and the urgent need for collective action to deter “hostage diplomacy” and bring Americans and others home.
Read more about the Forum, coalition efforts, and the path forward by clicking on the button below.
| | Welcoming our New Interns and Fellows | | |
The Foley Foundation is pleased to welcome a new cohort of interns and fellows supporting our research, advocacy, and journalist safety programs.
Alyssa Tobias, a rising senior at Marquette University studying journalism, will support the Foundation’s journalist safety education efforts. Her interest in conflict reporting and commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices continue to shape her goals as an emerging journalist.
Andrew Dunn, a rising senior at Marquette studying political science and philosophy, joins the research and advocacy team. His academic focus on justice, power, and human dignity informs his interest in advancing thoughtful, research-driven policy solutions.
Brenna Recny, a graduate student at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, also supports the Foundation’s research and advocacy work. With experience in federal government relations and a focus on global politics and security, she brings strong policy and research expertise to the team.
Together, they strengthen the Foundation’s efforts to support hostages, wrongful detainees, and their families.
| | Seeking Bookkeeper/Accountant Referrals | | |
The Foley Foundation is seeking a part-time, external bookkeeper or accountant to support our financial operations. This contractor role includes core responsibilities such as monthly reconciliations, transaction coding in QuickBooks Online, financial reporting, and support for year-end compliance.
We are looking for an individual with nonprofit experience who can manage ongoing bookkeeping needs and collaborate with our team to ensure accurate and efficient financial processes.
If you know a qualified professional who may be a strong fit, please encourage them to submit their resume to resume@jamesfoleyfoundation.org, include your name, and cite “Flame newsletter referral” in the subject line.
| | WHERE IN THE WORLD IS DIANE | Diane Receives an Honorary Degree from Seton Hall University | | Diane with Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, N.J. and Rev. Msgr. Joseph Riley, President of Seton Hall University | | During its 2026 Commencement ceremony on May 18, 2026, Seton Hall University conferred an honorary degree to our founder, Diane Foley. You can watch the ceremony and Diane's acceptance speech by clicking on the button below. | |
(Video plays in YouTube)
| Former Hostages Honor Diane | In an event organized by Hostage Aid Worldwide, former American hostages and wrongful detainees, families of current hostages, members of the hostage community and friends, gathered on May 7 to honor Diane. | | |
Please support the work of the Foley Foundation by sharing this newsletter with your coworkers, friends, and family, or by donating.
Visit our website
| | | | |
