Calling for the immediate release of George Glezmann, a United States citizen who was wrongfully detained by the Taliban on December 5, 2022, and condemning the wrongful detention of all Americans by the Taliban.

Bill: 118-hres-1347
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Introduced: 2024-07-09
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1347 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 9, 2024 Ms. Williams of Georgia submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling for the immediate release of George Glezmann, a United States citizen who was wrongfully detained by the Taliban on December 5, 2022, and condemning the wrongful detention of all Americans by the Taliban.

Whereas George Glezmann is known to his family, friends, colleagues, and associates as a loving father, as well as a kind, service-oriented man to his community; Whereas, in December 2022, George Glezmann traveled to Afghanistan for a five-day trip to explore the cultural landscape and rich history of the country; Whereas the Taliban detained George Glezmann without charging him with a crime or granting him due process in any judicial proceedings; Whereas, on September 29, 2023, George Glezmann was designated as wrongfully detained by United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Whereas George Glezmann is being held in a nine-foot by nine-foot cell with other detainees and has been held in solitary confinement and underground for months at a time; Whereas the Taliban has not granted George Glezmann any consular visits by Department of State personnel; Whereas, during his detention, George Glezmann has had only seven phone calls totaling 54 minutes with his family and limited in-person visits with representatives of Qatar, the protecting power of the United States in Afghanistan; Whereas George Glezmann is suffering from facial tumors, hypertension, severe malnutrition, and other medical conditions; and Whereas George Glezmann turned 65 years old during his wrongful detention, and his physical and mental health are rapidly declining due to the stress and harsh conditions such that his family fears he will not survive his wrongful detention: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) calls on the Taliban to immediately and unconditionally release George Glezmann and all other citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States wrongfully detained in Afghanistan; (2) urges the Taliban to respect George Glezmann’s human rights and to provide full, unfettered, and consistent health and safety visits to George Glezmann while in detention; (3) encourages the Government of Qatar, as the protecting power of the United States in Afghanistan, to continue its efforts to conduct basic health and wellness checks on George Glezmann, thanks Qatar for its efforts so far, and encourages Qatar to be involved in securing the release of George Glezmann; (4) urges the President of the United States and all United States executive branch officials to continue to raise the case of George Glezmann and to press for his immediate release in all interactions with the Taliban; (5) condemns the Taliban’s practice of wrongful detention and demands that the Taliban stop detaining United States citizens for political gain; (6) expresses sympathy for and solidarity with the families of all other citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States wrongfully detained abroad; and (7) expresses support for the family of George Glezmann and a commitment to bringing George Glezmann home.