For a month. Now people in Iran have been protesting against the
regime after a young woman died in police custody. Over the weekend,
A large fire erupted inside a prison facility in Tehran known for
jailing political prisoners. At least eight people are believed to
be dead. I'm going to bars has more
The protest movement sweeping Iran after the death of Masa Amini
spread to the notorious Evin prison in Tehran on Saturday. The videos
spread on social media of the prison ablaze flames and smoke rising
from parts of the compound. Gunshots can be heard in some clips.
Tehran's governor later blamed a prisoner. Riot activists said prisoners
were chanting anti regime slogans and guards launched a crackdown
later that evening. Protesters outside we're seeing marching to the
prison.
Chanting death to the dictator!
American citizen. Imad Sharkey is currently detained inside Evin
prison. His sister Nether Sharji, who's been campaigning for his
release, joins us tonight. Another welcome. Thanks for being here.
Thank you for having me so I want to ask you about your brother's
detention. He's been held there for four years. Now in a moment,
But I want to begin with this weekend as the fires were burning as
the riots were unfolding. Your brother was inside and he called you.
What did he tell you? What did you hear?
He was actually in D. C at an event for hostages who had come home,
So I thought he was calling at that time to see how the event went.
But when he called it was quite loud in the background, and, um,
I just said, you know, high. Um, I want you to know that I'm okay.
And I said, What's going on? What's all the noises in the background
and he said, It's just very chaotic here.
And that's all, he said. His voice was incredibly, um, you know,
heavy, and he said, We're just staying in our room.
Um And I said okay, and he said, you know, tell everyone I love them.
And I hope to talk to you soon.
But it really wasn't what Emma said. It was more what I could hear.
In the background. It sounded like he was in the middle of a riot.
I could hear people shouting, and I could hear what I now know are
gunshots because I only found out later that there have been riots
in that part of the prison where he where he is. What was it like
for you? In that moment when you're seeing these videos? The fire
is burning. Hearing the gunshots knowing your brother's inside. You
know, I try to be a very optimistic person. But I was I thought to
myself. That could be the last time I
I hear from him. I imagined him, you know, in a smoke filled room,
unable to get out all the worst possible thoughts.
Came to my head and then I had the responsibility of knowing that
I was the last person who spoke to him.
So, um
It was terrifying. Your brother has been there since 2018 wrongfully
detained. He is an American citizen was convicted in a sham trial
and some national security charges. What can you tell us about the
negotiations to bring him back home? What do US officials tell you
Just hear that They're trying to do their best to get them out. But
I should have been out last year and which would have been out six
months ago and I should have been out three months ago, and he's
still there. I think what we learned this weekend is that that time
is an illusion. At any moment, something could happen.
And to him.
And he could die. He did survive. We should say you were able to
confirm he is okay. But what can you tell us about how he is doing?
He called. Finally, yesterday morning and, um, it was a minute long
call. He just said I'm alive. And I'm fine. Don't worry. I didn't
ask him anything, and he didn't offer any more details. You know,
the calls are usually short and monitored.
Um
His voice was hoarse. Um, and he was coughing and
I am putting two and two together, thinking that he's probably inhaled
a lot of the smoke from the fires because the fires are in the near
the ward, where he where he is kept, and he said that they moved
him late at night to Section two. A
Of having prison away from the fire. Have you or anyone in your family
been able to meet with President Biden or speak to him directly about
this? We have seen the Biden administration have some success, bringing
home Americans who are wrongfully detained, most recently from Venezuela.
But also
Nemazee was released from medical treatment from Iran. Yes, spoken
with them directly.
I have not spoken. We have not spoken to President Biden. We have
made several requests to speak with him because I think it's important
to talk about the case and what we understand and are frustrations
and the need for urgency. I think it's very important for the president
to know. Um, we keep requesting and we hope to hear from him and
have the opportunity to meet with him. Do you believe they're doing
everything they can to bring him home?
I believe they don't quite understand when we say to them. You need
to do this quickly. I believe they think that time is on our side
and that they can just wait. So I
I don't believe they understand how urgent it is to get them home.
This moment in time in Iran. We're seeing historic protests across
the country, right? You're also the nuclear talks are playing out
between Iran and the US. Are you worried? All of this impacts your
brother's future? Of course I am. Um it's hard enough to to get attention
for this humanitarian issue around our innocent American hostages,
and it's even tougher now.
To get our voices heard and to urge action on this very quickly.
Another target sister of wrongfully detained American citizen, Emma
Ciardi was held in Iran. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for