#consular-assistance

#consular-assistance

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was kept in an Iranian jail for six years on bogus espionage charges until her release in March 2022, was speaking at a conference dedicated to eradicating the growing international practice of hostage-taking. The government has a moral duty of care for each and every citizen who is arbitrarily detained abroad, she said. That duty should be fair. Unfortunately, the government's policy in such cases is discretionary.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance. The Department does not comment on the details of individual cases,

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica. Strong winds and heavy rain pose a severe threat. I strongly advise all Irish citizens in the region to seek appropriate shelter and to closely follow the advice of Jamaican authorities.

"Gomez's letter also called for the "safe return" of detained Americans. Gomez's office said it is working with the State Department, the Israeli Embassy and other officials to secure Wilder's safety, provide her with consular access and medical care, and arrange for her eventual release and return to the U.S. In an interview with Democracy Now, Wilder spoke about her involvement with the flotilla, saying the vessel carried primarily medical and media workers."

Footage emerged of the Irish activist being repeatedly punched in the face by police at a protest in Berlin against "the deliberate killing of journalists in Gaza" on Thursday. A series of videos posted by IrishBlocBerlin on Instagram show Kitty O'Brien clutching their nose before lifting their bloodied hands to German police while shouting: "Their blood is on your hands." The footage then shows the activist being dragged from the crowd by two police officers.