Bacquer Namazi, Iranian-American prisoner, Leaves Iran for First Time in Almost Seven Years to Receive Medical Treatment

Evin Prison is where many of Iran’s political prisoners, including Siamek Namazi, are kept (Creative Commons).

Bacquer Namazi, an Iranian-American prisoner, left Iran for the first time after almost seven years of detainment to receive medical treatment on October 5. An Omani government office confirmed his arrival to Muscat, Oman, and stated that he is expected to travel to Abu Dhabi for medical treatment. His son, Siamek Namazi, another Iranian-American prisoner, received a week's furlough in Iran to visit his father.  

Bacquer Namazi is the former governor of Iran’s Khuzestan province and a retired United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) official. The Iranian government accused Namazi and his son of being American spies before arresting and sentencing them to ten years in prison. Siamek Namazi was arrested in 2015, while Bacquer Namazi was arrested during his trip to Iran in an attempt to release his son. Bacquer Namazi’s charge was changed to “time served” in 2020, but Siamek Namazi’s sentence still stands, and it is expected he will return to Evin Prison after a week. The United States government deems these charges “baseless.” 

Bacquer Namazi flew to Oman on October 5. After a short stay in Oman, Namazi will travel to Abu Dhabi to undergo his treatment. According to Jared Genser, the Namazi family’s lawyer, Namazi will “undergo a carotid endarterectomy at the Cleveland Clinic (in Abu Dhabi) to clear out a severe blockage to his left internal carotid artery (ICA), which puts him at very high risk for a stroke." 

In Abu Dhabi, Namazi will reunite with his other son, Babar Namazi, who is adamant that more must be done: “While getting my father out of Iran is incredibly important, today is also bittersweet. My brother Siamak as well as Americans Emad (Shargi) and Morad Tahbaz remain detained in Iran and our nightmare will not be over until our entire family (and) the other Americans are reunited with their families.” 

It is still unclear whether Namazi and his son’s releases indicate a new trend in Iran’s treatment of political prisoners. Prior to the Namazi release, Reuters reported that talks between Iran and the United States occured in an undisclosed mediating country (later identified as Oman) regarding a “simultaneous prisoner release.” Middle East Monitor reported that Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz were expected to be released. However, that has not yet occured. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken awaits Bacquer Namazi’s eventual return to the United States, stating, “We look forward to his full recovery and to welcoming him home to the United States.”