Michigan Imam: Release of Marine Detained in Iran May Be Imminent: Listen

Amir Hekmati has been held in a Tehran prison since Aug. 29, 2011, when he was picked up by intelligence and security authorities, who suspected the dual U.S.-Iranian citizen of espionage. (Screenshot via freeamir.org)

A Dearborn Heights imam said a former U.S. Marine from Michigan held captive in Iran for the past four years may be released soon.

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi told the Detroit Free Press he spent nearly an hour last week in the prison in Tehran where Amir Hekmati, of Flint, has been held on charges that he’s a spy for the CIA. Hekmati’s supporters say the charges are bogus.

Hekmati has been held longer than any other American currently imprisoned in iran, according to the website freeamir.org. Hekmati, who joined the Marines in 2001 and served as an infantryman, was picked up on Aug. 29, 2011, when he went to Iran to visit his grandmother. It was reportedly his first trip to Iran.

“He was so happy to see me,” Elahi said. “... We met and talked face to face. It was supposed to be 30 minutes. We spoke for almost an hour.”

Elahi, who was in Iran for a religious conference and to visit some shrines, said that though he is “optimistic” about Hekmati’s release, “I can’t promise anything to anybody for him.”

After he was was picked up by Iranian security and intelligence officials, Hekmati was tried, convicted and sentenced to death for spying. Iran’s supreme court set aside the death sentence when Hekmati appealed, and a retrial was ordered in 2012. His espionage conviction was overturned, but Hekmati was charged and sentenced to 10 years for “cooperating with hostile governments,” The Guardian reported.

Security and intelligence authorities in Iran are suspicious of individuals like Hekmati who have dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship. Hekmati was born in Arizona and grew up in Nebraska and Michigan.

“Milestone No Family Wants to Mark”

In a statement issued on the four-year anniversary of Hekmati’s arrest on espionage charges, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for the release of the former decorated Marine sergeant who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“This Saturday marks the four-year anniversary of U.S. citizen Amir Hekmati’s detention on false espionage charges while visiting his relatives in Iran.

“We repeat our call on the Iranian government to release Amir on humanitarian grounds. The Hekmati family needs Amir – their brother, their son, their uncle – to be home where he belongs.”

Kerry said the four-year anniversary is “a milestone no family wants to mark.”

“... The Hekmati family has shown inspiring perseverance in the face of this injustice. And as befits a former Marine, Amir has shown tremendous courage in the face of this unjust detention.”

International Outcry

In a recording, Hekmati said that had it not been for his supporters, “it’s possible that the outrageous death sentence I was given in 2011 would have been carried out.”

“I’m convinced the only reason I’m alive and allowed to use the prison phone is your support and international outcry at my imprisonment. My captors would have much preferred to keep my voice from being heard, and have me remain in solitary confinement ... in miserable conditions.”

Hekmati said he was threatened with hanging and was denied the chance to speak by phone with his father in Michigan, who is suffering from brain cancer. He said that his “morale has never faltered after all these years because I know I’m not alone.”

“It’s because of your support; you prevented further mistreatment by my Iranian captors,” he said.

Hekmati’s family said that although they recognize that the nuclear deal the U.S. reached with Iran and the detention of American citizens are separate issues, they wish his release could have been secured before the accord was announced in July.

Kerry said he will continue to press for Hekmati’s release.

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“As President Obama said recently in his speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, we are not going to relent until we bring Amir home,” Kerry said, according to a story on The Hill. “I join the president in his steadfast commitment to reunite Amir with his family.”

Kerry also called on the government of Iran to release two other Americans who are detained – Jason Rezaian, the Tehran bureau chief for the Washington Post, and Saeed Abedini, a Christian cleric. A third American, Robert Levinson, disappeared in Iran while on a CIA mission eight years ago.

“We also call on the government of Iran to release Saeed Abedini and Jason Rezaian, and to work cooperatively with us to locate Robert Levinson, so that all can be returned to their families,” Kerry said.

While serving with the Marines, Hekmati was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, GWOT Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.

Listen to the full audio tape below.