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U.S. NEWSWednesday 3 February

FBI creates Facebook page in Farsi for case of missing agent

In this March 6, 2012, file photo, an FBI poster showing a composite image of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, right, of how he would look like after then-five years
in captivity, and an image, left, taken from the video, released by his kidnappers in Washington during a news conference.

Associated Press

ERIC TUCKER tion revealed that he was campaign aimed at en- Though Levinson was last er Levinson remained alive.
Associated Press working for the CIA on an couraging tips and leads. seen on Iran’s Kish Island, One of Levinson’s children,
WASHINGTON (AP) — The unauthorized intelligence- The new Facebook page, the Iranian government Daniel Levinson, said in an
FBI has launched a Face- gathering mission. as well as a missing-person has never acknowledged interview with the AP last
book page in Farsi to solicit The case drew renewed poster and press release in arresting him and has said week that the family was
tips on the whereabouts of attention last month when Farsi that were already in it doesn’t know where he is. “devastated” that Levinson
Robert Levinson, a former Levinson was not part of circulation, represent the In late 2010, Levinson’s fam- was not part of the prisoner
FBI agent who went miss- a prisoner swap between most concerted effort so ily received a video that of- swap and was upset that
ing in Iran nine years ago. the U.S. and Iranian gov- far to reach Iranians in their fered proof that he was still it had no advance notice
The new site, which went ernments that set free four native language. alive. In the video, Levin- that the exchange would
live in the last few weeks, other Americans who had The page went live in the son, who had lost consider- take place.
is part of a broader effort been held in Iran’s custody, two weeks since the prison- able weight, pleaded for He said it should be “unac-
to appeal directly to the including Washington Post er swap was announced, help to return home. In April ceptable not just to us but
Iranian public for informa- reporter Jason Rezaian. but it had been in the works 2011, the family received to the American people to
tion about Levinson’s dis- The FBI says it continues to before then, FBI officials photos showing Levinson, leave someone behind like
appearance and comes investigate every lead and said. Additional pages are with unkempt hair, dressed that,” noting that his father
as the FBI continues its remains committed to find- planned in the Arabic and in an orange jumpsuit. His had missed joyful family
yearslong search for him. ing Levinson and bringing Urdu languages. relatives have said that he events like weddings and
Farsi is the predominant him home. A $5 million re- White House spokesman suffers from diabetes, gout births of grandchildren.
language of Iran. ward for information lead- Josh Earnest said last month and hypertension. “We’re not going to go
Levinson, now 67, disap- ing to his whereabouts re- that Levinson may no lon- But Secretary of State John away. We’re not going to
peared from Iran’s Kish Is- mains in effect. ger be in Iran, but no evi- Kerry said after the prisoner give up,” Levinson said.
land in March 2007. A 2013 The FBI has long had an Eng- dence has surfaced pub- deal last month that U.S. of- “We’re going to continue
Associated Press investiga- lish-language social media licly to support that idea. ficials did not know wheth- pressing.”q