What Will it Take to Bring Brittney Griner -- and other Political Prisoners -- Home?

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 24 August 2022

⏱️ 57 minutes

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Summary

Brittney Griner, the WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, remains detained in Russia after a court there sentenced her earlier this month to nine years in prison for carrying a small amount of hashish oil into the country. Her conviction and sentence came after a month-long trial widely denounced as a sham designed to give Russia political leverage over the United States. Griner’s case, painful in its injustice, is not unique: foreign governments are unlawfully holding dozens of Americans, and government hostage-taking is on the rise. We’ll talk about the impacts on families of political prisoners and what it may take to bring Griner and other Americans home. Guests: Jason Rezaian, global opinions writer, The Washington Post; author, "Prisoner: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison–Solitary Confinement, a Sham Trial, High-Stakes Diplomacy, and the Extraordinary Efforts It Took to Get Me Out" Danielle Gilbert, Rosenwald fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy & International Security, Dartmouth College Kierra Johnson, executive director, National LGBTQ Task Force Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for Forum comes from Rancho La Puerta, boated the number one wellness resort and spa by readers of travel and leisure magazine in 2024.
0:09.7	In August, three or four people sharing a cassita enjoy special vacation packages that include hiking, mindfulness, and fitness classes, in a garden setting on 4,000 verdant acres of nature preserve.
0:22.4	Check in to summer at Rancho LaPorta, Rancho LaPorta.com.
0:26.6	Support for Forum comes from Broadway S.F. presenting Parade, the musical revival based on a true story.
0:34.4	From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of Leo and Lucille Frank,
0:40.6	a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is accused of an
0:46.3	unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and
0:53.2	devotion.
1:02.1	The riveting and gloriously hopeful parade plays the Orpheum Theater for three weeks only, May 20th through June 8th.
1:06.4	Tickets on sale now at Broadway, sF.com.
1:09.0	From KQED. From KQED in San Francisco, this is Forum. I'm Nina Kim. The U.S. and Russia are reportedly
1:30.8	negotiating a prisoner swap that could bring Brittany Greiner home. The WNBA star and two-time
1:37.6	Olympic gold medalist has now been held in a Russian prison for six months. This hour, we'll get the latest on Griner's case
1:46.0	and take a closer look at how US hostage policy
1:49.6	and negotiations work.
1:51.8	We'll also hear from former hostage, Jason Rezaian,
1:55.3	who was imprisoned in Iran for 544 days.
1:59.3	Join us. This is Forum. I'm Mina Kim. A Russian court this month sentenced WNBA star Brittany Greiner to nine years in prison for drug smuggling.
2:21.2	She had a small amount of hashish oil in her luggage when she traveled to the country to play for a team there in her off-season.
2:27.8	The two-time Olympic gold medalist has now been there for six months, and her case has stirred outcry.
2:33.9	That's also bringing attention
2:35.3	to other Americans being held by hostile foreign governments. Joining me now is Dr. Danny Gilbert,
	...

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