American held in Iranian prison where deadly fire erupted over weekend

Judy Woodruff:

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.

Amna Nawaz has more.

Amna Nawaz:

The protest movement sweeping Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini spread to the notorious Evin prison Tehran. On Saturday, 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 were seen marching to the prison chanting "Death to the dictator."

American citizen Emad Sharghi is currently detained inside Evin prison. His sister, Neda Sharghi, who has been campaigning for his release, joins us tonight.

Neda, welcome. Thanks for being here.

Neda Sharghi, Sister of Emad Sharghi: Thank you for having me.

Amna Nawaz:

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?

Neda Sharghi:

He — I 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 Emad just said: "Hi. I want you to know that I'm OK."

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 heavy. And he said: "We're just staying in our room."

And I said: "OK."

And he said: "Tell everyone I love them. And I hope to talk to you soon."

But it really wasn't what Emad 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 had been riots in that part of the prison where he is.

Amna Nawaz:

What was it like for you in that moment, when you're seeing these videos, the fires burning, hearing the gunshots, knowing your brother's inside?

Neda Sharghi:

I try to be a very optimistic person. But I was — I thought to myself, that could be the last time I hear from him. I imagined him 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 it was terrifying.

Amna Nawaz:

Your brother has been there since 2018, wrongfully detained. He's an American citizen. He was convicted in a sham trial on some national security charges.

What can you tell us about the negotiations to bring him back home? What do U.S. officials tell you?

Neda Sharghi:

We just hear that they're trying to do their best to get them out.

But Emad should have been out last year. Emad should have been out six months ago. Emad should have been out three months ago. And he's still there.

I think what we learned this weekend is that time is an illusion. At any moment, something could happen to him and he could die.

Amna Nawaz:

He did survive. We should say you were able to confirm he is OK. But what can you tell us about how he is doing?

Neda Sharghi:

He called, finally, yesterday morning. And 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. The calls are usually short and monitored. His voice was hoarse. And he was coughing. And I'm 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 2-A of Evin prison, away from the fire.

Amna Nawaz:

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, Baquer Namazi was released from medical treatment from Iran.

Neda Sharghi:

Yes.

Amna Nawaz:

Have you spoken with them directly?

Neda Sharghi:

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 our frustrations and the need for urgency.

I think it's very important for the president to know. We keep requesting and we hope to hear from him and have the opportunity to meet with him.

Amna Nawaz:

Do you believe they're doing everything they can to bring him home?

Neda Sharghi:

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 don't believe they understand how urgent it is to get them home.

Amna Nawaz:

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 U.S.

Are you worried all of this impacts your brother's future?

Neda Sharghi:

Of course I am.

It's hard enough 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 this very quickly.

Amna Nawaz:

Neda Sharghi, sister of wrongfully detained American citizen Emad Sharghi, who is held in Iran, thank you for joining us.

Neda Sharghi:

Thank you for having me.