Dorothy Parvaz

Homa Dorothy Parvaz is an Iranian-born journalist. She has worked for Al Jazeera and NPR.

She holds both Canada and United States citizenships.

Early life and education Homa Dorothy Parvaz was born in October 1971 in Tehran, Iran to an Iranian father and an American mother. She lived in Iran until she was ten years old, then spent the next four years in Dubai. Parvaz moved to Canada with her family in 1985, ultimately graduating from a Canadian high school. She subsequently obtained a master's degree in journalism from the University of Arizona.

Career After obtaining her degree from the University of British Columbia, Parvaz worked for the English language edition of the Asahi Shimbun in Japan.

Following her sojourn in Japan, Parvaz obtained her master's degree in journalism from the University of Arizona. She moved to Seattle in 1999,

Parvaz works at NPR, where she focuses on international news. She is based in Washington, D.C.

2011 disappearance Parvaz arrived in Syria on Friday, April 29, 2011, via Qatar Airways She was not heard from after landing at the airport, and it was suspected that she had been detained at the airport. Her family feared for her safety.

On May 2, 2011, Parvaz's family released the following statement: Other voices calling for her release included Amnesty International, the Doha Centre for Media Freedom, Al Karama for Human Rights, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and the U.S. State Department.

It was reported on May 5, 2011, that Parvaz was being held by the Syrian government, which Syria confirmed. Her family and friends called for her release. Facebook and Twitter campaigns were also underway.

It was further reported on May 7, 2011, that U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford met with a senior Syrian official in an attempt to obtain more information about Parvaz.

The family released the following additional statement:

Syrian newspaper Al Watan reported that the Syrian government claimed Parvaz left Syria on May 1, 2011, after being denied entry to the country because she held a tourist visa instead of a journalist visa. This claim was unconfirmed, most notably by Parvaz herself.

As of May 11, 2011, unsubstantiated reports had emerged indicating that the Syrian government handed Parvaz over to Iranian authorities and that she might be held in Tehran.

On May 18, 2011, after disappearing on assignment in Syria for 19 days, Parvaz was released and sent back to Doha by Iranian authorities. By the end of the day, she had released an article detailing her experiences. Syria claimed she had entered Syria illegally with multiple passports, including an expired Iranian one. However, there was no issue with her passports. Her Iranian passport was extended and stamped upon entry by Syrian immigration.

Parvaz was named the 2013 recipient of the McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.