Naharnet

Zakka Says Lebanese State in 'Coma' over His Detention

Lebanese citizen and permanent U.S. resident Nizar Zakka has lamented that the Lebanese state seems to be in “full coma” over his continued imprisonment in Iran.

In a statement distributed by his family, Zakka thanked the Iranian “political prisoners” who are jailed with him “underground” for celebrating his birthday.

“They prepared dishes, each according to the traditions of his region, as an apology gesture on behalf of those who abducted me and because inviting a person and then arresting him arbitrarily does not reflect the manners of the Iranians,” Zakka said, in a jab at Iranian authorities.

He also thanked the prison guards who took part in the dinner banquet.

Zakka has been detained in Iran since 2015 over spying allegations. He was sentenced in 2016 to 10 years in prison and a $4.2 million fine.

In his letter, Zakka also thanked the Lebanese Equestrian Federation, his son Omar and the Lebanese community in Washington for celebrating his birthday, lamenting that the Lebanese state “is still in full coma, ignoring the case of a Lebanese citizen who was abducted in Tehran while being there on an official invitation.”

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim had met Zakka in his prison in August.

Ibrahim said at the time that "efforts have started with the Iranian authorities to secure the release of Nizar Zakka."

Zakka, who lived in Washington and held resident status in the U.S., was the leader of the Arab ICT Organization, or IJMA3, an industry consortium from 13 countries that advocates for information technology in the region. Zakka disappeared Sept. 18, 2015, during his fifth trip to Iran. He had been invited to attend a conference at which President Hassan Rouhani spoke of providing more economic opportunities for women and sustainable development.

On Nov. 3, Iranian state television aired a report saying he was in custody and calling him a spy with "deep links" with U.S. intelligence services. It also showed what it described as a damning photo of Zakka and three other men in army-style uniforms, two with flags and two with rifles on their shoulders. But that turned out to be from a homecoming event at Zakka's prep school, the Riverside Military Academy in Georgia, according to the school's president.

The Associated Press has reported that Zakka's IJMA3 organization had received at least $730,000 in contracts and grants since 2009 from both the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID.

Zakka's supporters had written former U.S. secretary of state John Kerry stating that Zakka traveled to Iran "with the knowledge and approval of the U.S. State Department, and his trip was funded by grants" from it.

Neither American nor Lebanese officials, who the U.S. says are responsible for providing consular assistance to Zakka, have publicly acknowledged Zakka's work with the U.S. government.

Source: Naharnet, Associated Press


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