I survived the Iran hostage crisis. People in countries like Iran desperately need the VOA

Over the 44 years since my release as a hostage of the Iranian regime, I have witnessed firsthand the unmet aspirations of the Iranian people and the vibrant, if often painful, struggles of the Iranian diaspora. Millions of Iranians have consistently and bravely reached for democracy, time and again defying a regime that has proven both unpopular and dangerous. 

For decades, the Voice of America’s (VOA) Persian service stood as a beacon of hope amid darkness — a trusted conduit for uncensored...