zpostcode
list of civilians detained by foreign governments and groups
Mar 27, 2026 6:14 PM

  list of civilians detained by foreign governments and groups Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-civilians-detained-by-foreign-governments-and-groups Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-civilians-detained-by-foreign-governments-and-groups Written by Tracy Grant Tracy Grant is editor-in-chief of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Tracy Grant Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jun 24, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents They are often journalists, attempting to bring news from difficult places to the rest of the world. But sometimes they are athletes, or tourists, or aid workers. The phenomenon of governments detaining foreign nationals and using them to negotiate on the geopolitical stage continues to play out decades after one of the most infamous cases of such detentions—the holding of 52 Americans in Iran for 444 days from 1979 to 1981. Some of those held make the headlines. Some come home, often after years of confinement. Some never do. Here is an overview of some civilians who have been wrongly ...(100 of 1484 words)

  Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!

Comments
Welcome to zpostcode comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Recommend >
HMS Hood
     HMS Hood The Royal Navy's battle cruiser HMS Hood in American waters, circa June–July 1924. The Hood was traveling around the world as part of the “Empire Cruise.” (more) HMS Hood British ship Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/HMS-Hood Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/HMS-Hood Written by Rebecca M. Kulik...
Amundsen Sea
     Thwaites Glacier and Pine Island Glacier Glaciers are prominent features in West Antarctica. The Thwaites Glacier has the largest ocean front of any glacier in the world, extending roughly 75 miles (120 km). (more) Amundsen Sea sea, Southern Ocean Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Amundsen-Sea Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL...
In search of alpha: Hard to prove; hard to sustain
     It takes rare skill to capture “excess” returns.© Viktor/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.If you’re looking to invest in an actively managed fund, you probably have one goal in mind: to beat the market. You’re looking for added value above and beyond what a passive index fund can deliver.   This added value comes in the form of a fund...
Alia Bhatt
     Indian actress Alia Bhatt Bollywood star Alia Bhatt at the Met Gala, New York City, 2024. (more) Alia Bhatt Indian actress Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alia-Bhatt Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alia-Bhatt Written by Gitanjali Roy Gitanjali Roy is senior editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over two decades of...
Information Recommendation
Stone Circles of Senegambia
     Stone Circles of Senegambia World Heritage site (more) Stone Circles of Senegambia monuments, Western Africa Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stone-Circles-of-Senegambia Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stone-Circles-of-Senegambia Also known as: Senegambian Stone Circles Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is...
the Spinners
     The Spinners, c. 1970 In the 1970s the Spinners produced one hit song after another, including “It's a Shame” and “I'll Be Around.” (more) the Spinners American vocal group Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/the-Spinners Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/the-Spinners Also known as: the Detroit Spinners, the Motown Spinners...
Big Dig
     Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge completed in 2003, spanning the Charles River in Boston. The bridge was built as part of the Big Dig project, the largest and most expensive highway infrastructure project in American history. (more) Big Dig tunnel project, Boston, Massachusetts, United States Actions...
doxing
     Doxing The act of exposing private or identifying information about an individual or group, usually online, without the person's or group's consent is often called “doxing.” (more) doxing Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/doxing Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/doxing Also known as: doxxing Written by Jacob Stovall Jacob Stovall...
Ayşenur Eygi
  Ayşenur Eygi Turkish-American activist Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aysenur-Eygi Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aysenur-Eygi Also known as: Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi Written by Tara Ramanathan Assistant Technology Editor at Encyclopedia Britannica. Tara Ramanathan Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have...
persistence hunting
     Possible persistence hunters Some members of the human lineage, including Australopithecus afarensis, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens. (more) persistence hunting human predation Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/persistence-hunting Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/persistence-hunting Also known as: endurance hunting Written by Teagan Wolter Teagan Wolter is...
whale vocalization
     sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) The largest of the toothed whales in the world are sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), which are easily recognized by their enormous square head and narrow lower jaw. (more) whale vocalization animal behavior Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/whale-vocalization Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/whale-vocalization Also known...
Beta, benchmarks, and risk: Measuring volatility
     How sensitive is your portfolio?© Viktor/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.How risky might a stock or fund be relative to the broader market? That’s a question you’re likely to ask when shopping for investments to add to your portfolio. Fortunately, this is exactly what the metric called beta aims to tell you. It’s also easy to find: Just look...