Why rogue regimes take hostages

By Michael Rubin

Updated 1936 GMT (0336 HKT) April 24, 2015

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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/29/asia/north-korea-american-hard-labor/index.html" target="_blank">Kim Dong Chul,</a> a South Korean-born American citizen detained in North Korea, is escorted to his trial April 29 in Pyongyang. A North Korean court sentenced Kim to 10 years in prison for what it called acts of subversion and espionage. North Korea watchers interpret the detainment of Americans and other foreign citizens as a collection of bargaining chips by the reclusive regime.

Photos: Americans detained abroad

Kim Dong Chul, a South Korean-born American citizen detained in North Korea, is escorted to his trial April 29 in Pyongyang. A North Korean court sentenced Kim to 10 years in prison for what it called acts of subversion and espionage. North Korea watchers interpret the detainment of Americans and other foreign citizens as a collection of bargaining chips by the reclusive regime.

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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/29/asia/north-korea-american-hard-labor/index.html">University of Virginia student Otto Frederick Warmbier </a>was detained by North Korea after being accused of carrying out "a hostile act" against the government, state media reported. In March, he was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly removing a political banner from a Pyongyang hotel.

Photos: Americans detained abroad

University of Virginia student Otto Frederick Warmbier was detained by North Korea after being accused of carrying out "a hostile act" against the government, state media reported. In March, he was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly removing a political banner from a Pyongyang hotel.

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Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post's bureau chief in Tehran, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/16/middleeast/iran-jason-rezaian-prisoners-freed/index.html">was released</a> January 16 as part of a prisoner swap. Rezaian <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/12/media/jason-rezaian-iran-guilty-verdict/index.html">was convicted by an Iranian Revolutionary Court</a> in October, according to Iran's state-run media. Rezaian was reportedly facing up to 20 years, but the sentence was not specified. The journalist was taken into custody in July 2014 and later charged with espionage; the Post has denied all allegations against him. His wife, Yeganeh Salehi, also was detained in July 2014 but later released.

Photos: Americans detained abroad

Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post's bureau chief in Tehran, was released January 16 as part of a prisoner swap. Rezaian was convicted by an Iranian Revolutionary Court in October, according to Iran's state-run media. Rezaian was reportedly facing up to 20 years, but the sentence was not specified. The journalist was taken into custody in July 2014 and later charged with espionage; the Post has denied all allegations against him. His wife, Yeganeh Salehi, also was detained in July 2014 but later released.

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Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen of Iranian birth, was <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/16/middleeast/iran-jason-rezaian-prisoners-freed/index.html">freed</a> as part of a prisoner swap that included Washington Post journalist <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/16/media/jason-rezaian-released-iran/index.html">Jason Rezaian</a> on January 16. Abedini was <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/25/world/meast/iran-american-pastor-saeed-abedini/index.html" target="_blank">sentenced to eight years in prison</a> in January 2013. He was accused of attempting to undermine the Iranian government and endangering national security by establishing home churches. He was detained in Iran on September 26, 2012, according to the American Center for Law and Justice.

Photos: Americans detained abroad

Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen of Iranian birth, was freed as part of a prisoner swap that included Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian on January 16. Abedini was sentenced to eight years in prison in January 2013. He was accused of attempting to undermine the Iranian government and endangering national security by establishing home churches. He was detained in Iran on September 26, 2012, according to the American Center for Law and Justice.

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Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine charged with spying, was <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/16/middleeast/iran-jason-rezaian-prisoners-freed/index.html">freed</a> as part of a prisoner swap that included Washington Post journalist <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/16/media/jason-rezaian-released-iran/index.html">Jason Rezaian</a> on January 16. An Iranian court threw out a 2011 death sentence for<strong> </strong>Hekmati, but he was secretly retried in Iran and convicted of "practical collaboration with the U.S. government," his sister told CNN on April 11. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, she said. Hekmati was detained in August 2011 during a visit to see his grandmother. His family and the Obama administration deny accusations he was spying for the CIA.

Photos: Americans detained abroad

Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine charged with spying, was freed as part of a prisoner swap that included Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian on January 16. An Iranian court threw out a 2011 death sentence for Hekmati, but he was secretly retried in Iran and convicted of "practical collaboration with the U.S. government," his sister told CNN on April 11. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, she said. Hekmati was detained in August 2011 during a visit to see his grandmother. His family and the Obama administration deny accusations he was spying for the CIA.

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Siamak Namazi, a Dubai-based businessman with dual U.S. and Iranian citizenship, was <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/30/middleeast/iran-american-detained/index.html" target="_blank">detained while visiting relatives in Tehran</a>, the Wall Street Journal reported October 29, citing unnamed sources. The Washington Post also reported his detention, citing a family friend who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Post reported that it wasn't clear what Namazi is alleged to have done. His detention would bring to five the number of Americans detained or unaccounted for in the Islamic republic.

Photos: Americans detained abroad

Siamak Namazi, a Dubai-based businessman with dual U.S. and Iranian citizenship, was detained while visiting relatives in Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported October 29, citing unnamed sources. The Washington Post also reported his detention, citing a family friend who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Post reported that it wasn't clear what Namazi is alleged to have done. His detention would bring to five the number of Americans detained or unaccounted for in the Islamic republic.

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Scott Darden was <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/07/politics/american-hostage-identified/" target="_blank">taken hostage</a> by Houthi rebels in Yemen in March 2015. He was captured while working for New Orleans-based Transoceanic Development, according to a source close to his family.

Photos: Americans detained abroad

Scott Darden was taken hostage by Houthi rebels in Yemen in March 2015. He was captured while working for New Orleans-based Transoceanic Development, according to a source close to his family.

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