Rally For Princeton Man Held Prisoner In Iran Set For Friday

PRINCETON, NJ — The wife of a Princeton University scholar who has been imprisoned in Iran will hold a rally Friday night, in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's a decision to withdraw America from the Iranian Nuclear Deal.

The Rally in Support of Xiyue Wang and Academic Freedom is set for Friday night, May 11, 7 p.m. on the north lawn in front of the Frist Campus Center at Princeton University.

On Tuesday afternoon, Trump announced the United States was withdrawing from the Iran Nuclear Deal during a press conference at the White House. He reinstated all sanctions the government waived in a deal the United States entered into with Iran and other countries under President Barack Obama.

“No matter what his decision is, I will continue pleading with the White House to make the hostage issue a priority in their Iran policy," Wang’s wife Hua Qu posted on social media before Trump's announcement. "The upcoming month is Ramadan, which will be very challenging to Xiyue's physical health and mental well-being. Xiyue has been unjustly imprisoned for almost two years, but our government still didn't treat his situation with urgency and has made little progress in bringing him back home. Let's give Xiyue hope and strength in this dire moment for him to survive this ordeal. I hope he can come home and meet you this year.”

Wang is accused of scanning 4,500 documents and attempting to access confidential information in Tehran. He has been arrested, tried and convicted on charges of espionage. He was was sentenced in July of last year to 10 years in prison. A month later, Iran denied Wang's appeal.

Qu has said Wang was experiencing depression, has suffered from multiple diseases and has attempted to commit suicide. He has been moved to a prison with extremely harsh conditions, according to his wife.

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was critical of Trump's decision.

“With this decision President Trump is risking U.S. national security, recklessly upending foundational partnerships with key U.S. allies in Europe and gambling with Israel’s security," Menendez said. "Today’s withdrawal from the JCPOA makes it more likely Iran will restart its nuclear weapons program in the future."

Hackensack Mayor Steve Lonegan, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 5th District, was supportive of the announcement.

“President Trump has long said that the Iranian nuclear deal was one of the worst foreign policy disasters in American history," Lonegan said. "He was 100 percent right. Today, President Trump has followed through on his promise to end this terrible arrangement and put the safety and security of the American people first."

See also: Here's What Could Happen If Iran Deal Collapses

The attached image of Xiyue Wang and his family was provided by the family and released via Princeton University