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The Foley Flame: Illuminating Updates
September 2026
| | Min Zin, Dr. Youlin Chen | | |
Since the 1990s, the People’s Republic of China has wrongfully detained dozens of Americans. The Foley Foundation has documented 41 cases of Americans who were either unjustly detained in China or held in the country under coercive exit bans.
We assess that China currently unjustly holds more Americans than any other country. Yet despite this record, the U.S. Department of State’s current travel advisory for China remains at Level 2 — advising Americans to “Exercise Increased Caution.” By comparison, other known captor countries, including Russia and Iran, are designated as Level 4 — “Do Not Travel.” The Department’s advisory to Americans considering travel to China also lacks a “D” indicator, which would specifically warn travelers of the risk of wrongful detention. That omission appears to be a political decision that does not reflect the real risk China poses to visiting Americans.
Those decisions are especially surprising given that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has designated two Americans as wrongfully detained this year: Dr. Youlin Chen, a seismologist, in March, and Min Zin, an academic researcher, in August. Learn more about their cases by clicking the button below.
| | FOLEY FOUNDATION RESEARCH | |
New Research Report Examines Recovery After
Hostage-Taking and Wrongful Detention
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On September 23, the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation will issue Beyond Release: Recovery After Hostage-Taking and Wrongful Detention, a new independent, nonpartisan research report examining the experiences of Americans after they return home from hostage-taking or wrongful detention abroad. This report is the latest in our Bringing Americans Home research series.
As more Americans have been released from captivity in recent years, the challenges they face during recovery have become increasingly apparent. Drawing on the lived experiences of former hostages and wrongful detainees, the report identifies gaps in existing support systems and offers recommendations to strengthen services, executive branch policies, and congressional legislation aimed at helping survivors rebuild their lives after captivity.
To mark the report's release, the Foundation will host an online event featuring an overview of the report's findings and a discussion about how the United States can better support Americans returning from unjust captivity. The webinar will bring together returnees, advocates, and government officials to explore the report's recommendations and their implications for future policy and practice.
When: September 23, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Eastern
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
| | Register today to attend the live event. Once published, the report will be available through the Foundation's website. | | Reza Valizadeh: A Grim Anniversary | | |
This month marks two years of wrongful detention for U.S. journalist Reza Valizadeh held in Iran. Reza, who previously worked for Radio Farda (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), courageously reported on corruption within the Iranian government. He was initially imprisoned for his reporting in 2007 and forced to flee the country for his safety. He spent more than a decade overseas, continuing to report on the political situation in Iran. He returned to Iran in March 2024 to care for his aging parents, after receiving assurances from the Iranian government of his safety. Despite these promises, Reza was baselessly arrested on September 22, 2024, on allegations of “collaborating with the hostile U.S. government.” He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment after a sham trial.
Reza’s wrongful detention is a stark reminder of how authoritarian regimes seek to silence journalists for reporting the truth. Journalism is not a crime. The U.S. government, and all allied countries that believe in a free press, need to prioritize Reza’s release.
| | Robert Gilman was released on August 11, 2026 after more than four and a half years of detention. Robert is a Marine Corps veteran who was traveling in Russia when he fell sick on a train. Instead of medical help, he was taken to a police station. | | |
American citizen Dena Karari has returned home after more than 18 months trapped in Iran under a coercive exit ban and subjected to repeated interrogations. During a family visit in 2024, Iranian authorities confiscated her passports, leveled baseless allegations, and prevented her from leaving the country.
Following sustained advocacy, Dena's friends, supported by the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation and working closely with her attorney, Jared Genser, helped raise awareness of her case among U.S. policymakers. Iran ultimately allowed Karari to leave the country in July, bringing her ordeal to an end.
Karari's case serves as a reminder that governments can deprive Americans of their freedom through exit bans and other coercive measures. While not formal imprisonment, coercive exit bans can have many of the same effects, preventing individuals from returning home, separating them from their families and livelihoods, and leaving them subject to constant uncertainty and government pressure. While we celebrate Karari's safe return, Americans including Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati remain wrongfully detained in Iran.
| | Kevin Rideout, an American missionary who was kidnapped in Niger last October, has been released and will be reunited with his extended family, his organization said in a statement on August 14. At the Soufan Center’s Global Summit on Terrorism and Political Violence, held last week in New York City, a panel of experts identified Africa as the new “epicenter” of ISIS activity, including the Sahel region, where terrorist groups believed to have held Rideout operate. | | In the next month, Reporting with Resilience (RwR), a Foley Foundation initiative focused on strengthening the emotional wellbeing and safety of U.S.-based journalists, will begin piloting a set of online resources with select newsrooms and journalists. The initiative has been developed with the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Stay tuned for updates about the public launch of RwR, anticipated in early 2027. | | |
The Foundation is seeking a Journalist Safety Program Manager to help lead the launch and growth of Reporting with Resilience, the journalist safety education initiative described above. This contract role is ideal for a journalism professional with strong program management experience.
To learn more and apply, visit our website or send a resume, cover letter, and references to resume@jamesfoleyfoundation.org.
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Join Us for the 12th Annual James W. Foley
Freedom Run
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This October, we invite you to honor Jim's legacy of moral courage and support the mission of the Foley Foundation by participating in the 12th Annual James W. Foley Freedom Run. The event will take place at the James W. Foley Community Center in Rochester, New Hampshire on October 17, and in Washington, D.C. on October 24, with a virtual participation option available for supporters around the world.
How You Can Get Involved
· Register to run, walk, or participate virtually.
· Create a fundraising page and share your story.
· Start a team with family, friends, or colleagues.
· Donate to support participants and the Foundation's mission.
· Help spread awareness through email and social media.
Whether you're joining us in person or from anywhere in the world, every step taken and every dollar raised helps support families affected by hostage-taking and advances efforts to protect journalists.
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Support Team Foley at the 2026 Marine Corps Marathon
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The Foley Foundation is proud to again participate in the 2026 Marine Corps Marathon, taking place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Known as "The People's Marathon," the Marine Corps Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world and offers runners a memorable course through some of our nation's most historic landmarks.
By supporting or joining Team Foley, you'll help advance the Foundation's critical work advocating for Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, supporting families navigating these crises, and promoting journalist safety around the world.
Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or looking for a meaningful cause to support, Team Foley is an opportunity to make every mile count.
Ready to run for freedom?
Join Team Foley today and help us inspire moral courage, support press freedom, and bring hope to families waiting for their loved ones to come home. Contact Amy Coyne today to learn how you can participate!
Prefer to support from home?
You don't need to run 26.2 miles to support Team Foley! By making a donation to one of our Marine Corps Marathon runners or directly through our marathon fundraising website, you will also help advance our mission.
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The Spanish-language version of American Mother, the memoir authored by Diane Foley and Colum McCann, is now available worldwide. A Catalan translation is also available. American Mother is now available in 7 languages: French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, as well as English.
A limited number of personalized copies may be purchased through the Foundation with a donation. Amazon and other vendors also carry the book.
Read an interview with Diane about the book:
| | WHERE IN THE WOELD IS DIANE? | | |
Diane Foley participated in a recent podcast hosted by Madam Policy.
You can watch the episode on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Please support the work of the Foley Foundation by sharing this newsletter with your coworkers, friends, and family, or by donating.
Visit our website
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