A Hingham man is the fifth American freed Saturday by Iranian government
Matt Trevithick was a former rower at Boston University.
Matthew Trevithick, a Hingham native and Boston University graduate, was released by the Iranian government Saturday.
According to a statement Saturday by Trevithick’s family, the 30-year-old was released after 40 days in Evin Prison in Tehran. Trevithick’s release was made independently from the U.S.-Iran prisoner exchange Saturday, which saw four other Americans released, per the Associated Press.
An author and researcher focusing on the Middle East, Trevithick first traveled to Iran in September as student for a four-month instensive language at the Dehkhoda Institute, a language center affiliated with Tehran University.
“We are profoundly grateful to all those who worked for his release and are happy for all the families whose loved ones are also heading home,’’ the family said in their statement. “We look forward to reuniting with Matt and ask that all respect his privacy as he returns.’’
According to the Associated Press, no reason was given for his detainment.
Trevithick has written for The Atlantic, Foreign Policy Magazine, the Daily Beast, the Wall St. Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. He also wrote the autobiography of Afghanistan’s first Minister of Higher Education following the fall of the Taliban and served as director of communications for the American University of Afghanistan.
A 2008 graduate with a degree in international relations, Trevithick was a member of BU’s crew team and received a silver medal in the 2008 Head of the Charles. According to a 2013 article in BU’s Bostonia magazine, he also coached for the Iraqi and Afghan national rowing teams.
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