Public Statement: Release Amrit Jha - A Seafarer Is Not a Political Prisoner
30 March 2026
Global Migrant Workers Network (GMWN) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Amrit Jha, a Nepali seafarer detained by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at Bandar Abbas Prison, where he has been held for an undisclosed period, without charge, without verified consular access, and without any confirmed communication with his family.
Amrit Jha left Nepal in 2024 under a legal labor contract, registered with Nepal's Department of Foreign Employment as a seafarer. He was working as a captain aboard a vessel operated by Black Sea Marine LLC, a UAE-based shipping company. His vessel was seized by the IRGC in the waters near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz region, reportedly due to alleged links between the vessel and Israeli interests. Of the seven crew members detained, four were released. Amrit Jha and two Indian nationals remain held. They have since been transferred from Qeshm Island to Bandar Abbas Prison.
His family in Nepal learned of his detention not through any government or employer notification, but through a single WhatsApp voice message from an unknown number, a number that has since gone silent.
“Iranian security personnel have detained me along with two Indian nationals. Please coordinate with the Government of Nepal for our rescue.”
— Amrit Jha, WhatsApp voice message to his family
His 70-year-old father, a shopkeeper in Gaighat, has heart conditions and has not been informed of the news. His sister, Pooja, travelled to Kathmandu upon hearing the news and has filed applications, met officials, and spoken to the media, carrying this burden alone while her brother remains detained in connection with a geopolitical conflict he had no role in.
This case reveals three failures happening simultaneously.
The failure of consular protection: Nepal has no direct diplomatic presence in Iran. Coordination runs through the embassy in Doha, Qatar, and an honorary consul operating from Turkey. Months into his detention, Nepal has not confirmed consular access. The reason for Jha's arrest has not been clarified, and the date of his arrest itself remains unknown. These indirect channels are not adequate for a citizen detained in a high-risk geopolitical environment.
The failure of employer accountability:Black Sea Marine LLC deployed Amrit Jha on a vessel traversing one of the most dangerous maritime zones in the world. The employer has hired a lawyer in Iran and filed a petition in court seeking his release. But his family has received no regular updates, no wage confirmation, and no direct support. The Maritime Labor Convention requires employers to maintain wages, fund legal defense, and sustain communication with detained seafarers' families. We are watching whether Black Sea Marine LLC upholds these obligations or abandons its captain, as others have been abandoned before.
The failure of international frameworks: As per the International Maritime Organization (IMO), approximately 20,000 maritime workers are stranded aboard vessels in the Strait of Hormuz region. The ILO-IMO Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers Detained in Connection with Alleged Crimes, incorporated into the Maritime Labor Convention, exist precisely for cases like Amrit Jha's. They are not being applied.
We call on:
1. The Government of Iran
To immediately release Amrit Jha and the two Indian nationals detained alongside him. They are seafarers performing a commercial function. They are not combatants. They are not criminals. We call for their immediate release.
2. The Government of Nepal
To assign a named, senior diplomat to this case with sole responsibility for daily follow-up; to formally invoke consular rights under the Vienna Convention; to formally request the Indian Embassy in Tehran to extend support to Jha, given that Indian nationals are detained in the same facility; and to provide the Jha family with weekly, documented updates. Nepal's political transition is not an excuse for consular abandonment.
3. Black Sea Marine LLC
To immediately confirm that Amrit Jha's wages are being maintained, that legal support is fully funded, and that his family receives direct, regular updates. The company must not disengage from its responsibilities. Seafarers have been abandoned by employers in Iranian detention before. Do not add this case to that record.
4. The International Labor Organization and the International Maritime Organization
Publicly recognize the case of Amrit Jha and the detained Indian nationals in all relevant statements and pursue compliance with the ILO-IMO Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers Detained in Connection with Alleged Crimes through every available mechanism.
5. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)
To register this case formally and use established channels to press for Jha's release and the full enforcement of his maritime labor rights under the Maritime Labor Convention.
To Amrit Jha
You are not forgotten. The world may be watching a war, but we are watching for you. Your family's courage in speaking out is not wasted. Your name is known. We will not let it disappear into a prison record.
To his family
We stand with you. We are working through every channel available to us. You should not be carrying this alone, and you are not.
“A migrant worker who crossed an ocean for work is not a pawn in anyone's war. Amrit Jha must come home.”
The Global Migrant Workers Network (GMWN) Statement on the Escalating Conflict in the Middle East
The Global Migrant Workers Network expresses deep concern over the escalating conflict unfolding across the Middle East and its grave implications for migrant workers living and working in affected countries, particularly across the GCC region.
In times of armed conflict, migrant workers are among the most vulnerable. They contribute significantly to host economies and sustain families across borders through their labor and remittances, yet they are too often excluded from protection systems during crises. History shows that migrant workers, especially domestic workers and low-wage laborers, face heightened risks of abandonment, unpaid wages, document confiscation, restricted movement, and lack of access to timely information or evacuation.
We stand in unwavering solidarity with all migrant workers and their families during this period of fear and uncertainty. We recognize the emotional, economic, and physical toll that instability, infrastructure disruption, and insecurity impose on migrant communities far from home.
“Migrant workers did not create this conflict. They should not be treated as collateral damage."
We urgently call on the governments of both host and origin countries, as well as the international community, humanitarian organizations, and civil society, to place migrant workers at the forefront of rights protection during this crisis. We also urge swift and immediate action.
1. Inclusion in Emergency and Evacuation Plans
Migrant workers must be fully integrated into national emergency response and evacuation mechanisms, regardless of immigration or employment status.
2. Enforcement of Labor and Human Rights Protections
Wage protections, freedom of movement, and the prohibition of passport confiscation must remain enforced, even during crisis situations.
3. Active Coordination Between Host and Sending States
Transparent cooperation must ensure accessible evacuation pathways, safe repatriation where necessary, and reintegration.
4. Accessible and Multilingual Communication
Clear, verified, and multilingual information must reach migrant communities directly, including those working in private households.
Monitoring and Accountability
Labor conditions during this conflict must be subject to oversight, and abuses must be addressed through clear accountability mechanisms.
We further urge international humanitarian and labor organizations to prioritize migrant workers in all crisis response frameworks and to meaningfully consult migrant-led organizations in planning and implementation.
To Migrant Workers in Affected Countries
We urge you to remain calm, stay informed through official channels, and follow safety advisories issued by local authorities and your embassies. Avoid sharing unverified information. Stay connected with trusted networks and fellow migrant communities. Communication and collective vigilance strengthen resilience and safety.
If your country does not have diplomatic representation in your location, seek out trusted migrant networks and organizations that can connect you with available support systems.
GMWN Emergency Response Mechanism
In response to this crisis, GMWN has established a 24/7 Emergency Response Team and Hotline to provide support, guidance, and referral services to migrant workers in need. Further details, including contact information and operating languages, will be shared shortly.
“No migrant worker should face this crisis alone."
“Peace is not merely the absence of war; it is the active protection of human dignity, justice, and safety for all — including migrant workers.”
We call on all parties to prioritize de-escalation and the protection of civilians. The safety and rights of migrant workers must remain non-negotiable.