In 1984, Congress enacted the hostage taking statute to
implement the
International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages. The
statute became
effective on January 6, 1985. Hostage taking is defined as the
seizing or
detention of an individual coupled with a threat to kill, injure or
continue to
detain such individual in order to compel a third person or
governmental
organization to take some action. The United States has
jurisdiction over the
taking of hostages outside the United States (a) if the perpetrator
or a hostage
is a United States national, (b) if the perpetrator is found in the
United States
regardless of his nationality, or (c) if the United States is the
Government
coerced by the hostage taker. SeeUSAM
9-60.700, et seq.