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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 - My experience: psychologist Dr Sarah Whittaker shares how she supports former hostages Page Image

My experience: psychologist Dr Sarah Whittaker shares how she supports former hostages

British psychologist, Dr Sarah Whittaker, is on our network of mental health experts working with many of those we support at Hostage International.Ā  The article below was originally published in faz.net. Dr. Sarah Whittaker is a…

Hostage International - Hostage International community volunteer organises opera to raise funds for people affected by hostage situations Page Image

Hostage International community volunteer organises opera to raise funds for people affected by hostage situations

Verdi’s opera classic, La Traviata, was performed by London’s City Music Services in the stunning surroundings of Denmans Garden in rural Sussex, UK, on 11 October 2025 to raise essential funds for Hostage International. The fund-raising…

Hostage International - From Couch to 5k and beyond – mum runs half marathon for Hostage International Page Image

From Couch to 5k and beyond – mum runs half marathon for Hostage International

A mum of three completed the Great Bristol Run on 11 May 2025 to raise funds for Hostage International. Georgia Ladbury was, until last year, a self-professed ā€˜non-runner’, more likely to be found singing than running…

Hostage International - Anoosheh and Simon’s marathon promise fulfilled Page Image

Anoosheh and Simon’s marathon promise fulfilled

Anoosheh Ashoori dreamt of running the London Marathon throughout the five years that he was arbitrarily detained in Evin prison, and in April 2025 – at the age of 71 – he completed it for the…

My Experience

Hostage International - My experience: psychologist Dr Sarah Whittaker shares how she supports former hostages Page Image

My experience: psychologist Dr Sarah Whittaker shares how she supports former hostages

British psychologist, Dr Sarah Whittaker, is on our network of mental health experts working with many of those we support at Hostage International.Ā  The article below was originally published in faz.net. Dr. Sarah Whittaker is a…

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…