Please watch our video to find out about our essential work. Created with support from HelpFilm

What We Do

Hostage International provides specialist assistance for people affected by kidnappings and arbitrary detention worldwide. Our comprehensive approach helps individuals, families and organisations navigate these challenging situations. We are not involved in resolution but fill a much-needed gap in helping people understand how these incidents are resolved. We help to make sense of any difficulties along the way and offer on-going support after release.

News and Views

Hostage International - Hostage International launches bespoke Family Mediation Service Page Image

Hostage International launches bespoke Family Mediation Service

Hostage International has launched a new pilot project to offer extra help for families and former hostages as they readjust to life together after release. This innovative mediation service offers a unique opportunity for families –…

Hostage International - Anoosheh and Simon’s shared promise leads to marathon to raise funds for Hostage International Page Image

Anoosheh and Simon’s shared promise leads to marathon to raise funds for Hostage International

Anoosheh Ashoori dreamt of running the London Marathon throughout the five years that he was arbitrarily detained in Evin prison. Determined to keep fit in body and mind, Anoosheh spent hours training in the exercise courtyard…

Hostage International - Looking back on our 20th year – the need for Hostage International continues to grow. Page Image

Looking back on our 20th year – the need for Hostage International continues to grow.

An end of year message from our CEO, Lara Symons. As we come to the end of 2024, it offers a moment to reflect on our achievements while highlighting our priorities for next year and beyond…

Hostage International - ‘A club that nobody wants to be part of’ Page Image

‘A club that nobody wants to be part of’

Former hostages meet up for group support  In September 2024, a unique group of individuals joined together for a day to share their experiences and provide mutual support around having been held hostage. Organised by Hostage…

My Experience

Hostage International - My Experience: Three years on from release Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe talks about captivity and freedom Page Image

My Experience: Three years on from release Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe talks about captivity and freedom

Three years, nearly to the day, of her release from arbitrary detention in Iran, Nazanin was in Salisbury Cathedral in conversation with The Rt Revd Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne. On International Women’s Day, Nazanin shared…

Hostage International - My experience: Not Child’s Play – a family taken hostage Page Image

My experience: Not Child’s Play – a family taken hostage

A labour of love saw Dave Muller spending ten years building a yacht from scratch and in 1990 he set off with his family to fulfil his dream of voyaging to the tropics. Despite years of…

Hostage International - My experience: I wanted to hold a memorial for my dad to highlight the wonderful man he was Page Image

My experience: I wanted to hold a memorial for my dad to highlight the wonderful man he was

David Haines, a humanitarian worker, was among 26 hostages captured in Syria by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2013, before being murdered in September 2014. His daughter, Bethany, was 16 at the…

Hostage International - My experience: After release it was amazing to have Hostage International on hand so quickly Page Image

My experience: After release it was amazing to have Hostage International on hand so quickly

Bernard, an Irish-French tourism consultant with a love of Iran, was working with a local friend and tourism operator researching a new potential tour of the country when he was picked up by police and taken…