at the Matter! guides ?01 20515 August 9, 2019 President Donald J. Trump The White House 1600 Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Trump: We write to ask that you prioritize the release of Mr. Xiyue Wang, an American citizen unjustly imprisoned at Evin Prison in Iran for three years.1 Mr. Wang is a University of Washington alumnus and Princeton University graduate student who traveled to Iran in May 2016 to pursue language studies and dissertation research. He was arrested in August 2016 and subsequently wrongly convicted of two counts of eSpionage and sentenced to 10 years in prison under Iranian Criminal Code.2 August 6, 2019 marked three years of imprisonment for Mr. Wang. Mr. Wang obtained a visa for travel to Iran to continue his language studies and conduct dissertation research on the 19th and 20th century Qajar dynasty. His research plan was approved by Iranian authorities, who also granted him authorization to access the national archives. He did not engage in any political activities or social activism and has no connections to U.S. government or intelligence agencies.3 In fact, the documents he was asking for were neither classi?ed nor related to contemporary politics. Most were newspaper clippings from between 1880 and 1921, material that was originally published in the public domain.4 Mr. Wang?s case has drawn signi?cant international media attention. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has concluded that the government of Iran had ?no legal basis for the arrest and detention? of Mr. Wang, that Iran committed ?multiple violations" of his right to a fair trial and that he should be released ?immediately.? Furthermore, Mr. Wang has faced multiple ailments as a result of his imprisonment, ranging from skin rashes and migraines to arthritis in his knee.?5 For two years he shared a cell with Nizar Zakka, a U.S. permanent resident who was also wrongly sentenced to prison in Tehran for 10 years. Mr. Zakka, who was released ?'om prison in June 2019, con?rmed that not only did Mr. Wang suffer ?'om a skin 351 I imprisoned-nan 3 35 4 5 '5 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER disease, but it took the prison months to procure the correct medicine for him? Your White House,8 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,9 Washington Governor Jay Inslee10 and other U.S. of?cials have highlighted Mr. Wang's plight on various occasions. His case has also been the subject of several Congressional Resolutions. We appreciate the Administration?s work to release Americans wrongly imprisoned around the world. As Mr. Wang?s home countly, the United States has the obligation to use every legal and diplomatic tool available to bring him home. We urge you to immediately resume direct and consistent diplomatic dialogue and take action to bring Mr. Wang home to his wife and six-year- old child. We thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter. Sincerely, MW PRAMILA JAYAPAL Member of Congress MARIA CANTWELL ADAM SM r15" U.S. Senator Member of Congress RICK LARSEN SUZAN DELBENE Member of Congress Member of Congress 7 ?tr?1?lIB?EC?iTllitt? a 9 of amcricans held in iran push for trump meeti mam Member 0 Congress KL SCHRIER Member of Congress Cc: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo DEMLMER Member of Congress at?