Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-8th/MD), Tom Lantos (D-12/CA), Elijah E. Cummings, (D-7th/MD), Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-1st/MD), and Gary Ackerman (D-5th/NY) introduced resolution, H.RES. 430 on May 22nd. The resolution calls for the release of Iranian American scholar Dr. Haleh Esfandiari.

H.RES.430 calls on the government of Iran to immediately release Esfandiari and all other individuals being detained for participating in the free exchange of scholarship and ideas. The resolution also calls on the U.S. government to work with its allies throughout the Middle East, as well as with other governments and international organizations, to secure Esfandiari’s release.
Esfandiari, who is a resident of the state of Maryland and the Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, was arrested in Tehran on May 8th after being barred from leaving Iran. Esfandiari traveled to Iran in December to visit her ailing 93 year old mother.
“Dr. Esfandiari’s imprisonment shows a gross disregard for the rule of law and belies statements by Iranian government officials that Iran would like to improve relations with the United States,” said Representative Van Hollen. “We want to send a strong message to the Iran government that her release is a priority.”