Press Release
Rep. Smith Welcomes Release of NJ Man Held Hostage by Iranian Gov’tRep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today enthusiastically welcomed today’s release of Xiyue Wang, a Princeton, NJ graduate student who was taken hostage by the Iranian government while working on an Iranian government-approved research project.
“In April of 2018, I met Hua Qu, wife of Princeton University grad student Xiyue Wang—who until this week was unjustly incarcerated in Iran’s infamous Evin prison,” said Smith. “Many who heard her appeal for her husband’s release—and witnessed her remarkable love for her husband—could not remain silent.” “She has been a tenacious and effective advocate for Xiyue,” Smith said. “In a May 11, 2018 letter to President Trump that I conveyed to the White House, Hua Qu said: ‘without your help, Mr. President, I am afraid that nothing will happen…Only you can bring him home…make our family whole again… Please, Mr. President, you are our hope and we are counting on you.’ “ “Against serious odds, President Trump—and his team—secured Xiyue’s freedom,” Smith said. “Amidst the joy of this news, we must continue to press hard for the release of the other hostages in Iran including falsely imprisoned father and son Baquer and Siamak Namazi,” Smith said. “Earlier this week I met a group of relatives including Babak Namazi who is pushing for the release of his dad and brother.” PICTURED ABOVE: Rep. Smith meets with Hua Qu in Smith’s Hamilton office. The Congressman spoke with Hua today to discuss the news of her husband’s release.
Smith met with Wang’s wife at his Hamilton office. Smith spoke at a Princeton University rally for Wang on May 11, 2018, and later meetings in Washington DC. At a congressional hearing on May 23, 2019, Smith directly asked U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to help secure Wang’s release. Click here or on CSPAN video link above. He also sent Pompeo a letter in May 2018.
Smith was asked to get involved by friends of Hua in the Mercer County area. ### |