A USA congressman from MI said he worked in public and behind the scenes, once meeting privately with Iran’s foreign minister, to win the release of an Iranian-American prisoner from his congressional district sentenced to death for spying.
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But Mitchell didn’t want to get too political during their conversation amidst what he described as a happy moment with Hekmati coming back to Flint with his family. I knew that his family was trying to get him released for years.
Amir Hekmati spoke to the news media Tuesday outside a medical facility in Germany, where he said he considered himself “extremely lucky” and his entire release “surreal”. I love this city and I love these people. “All I said was… welcome home”.
“It’s been a very long road”, Hekmati said Thursday. Everybody from the President, Congressman (Dan) Kildee, every day Americans I am standing here healthy, tall and with my head held high. From the left: brother-in-law Dr. Ramy Kurdi, sister Sarah Hekmati, Kildee, Amir Hekmati and sister Leila Hekmati.
Hekmati says he went to Iran to visit family and spend time with his ailing grandmother.
“I was at a point where I had just sort of accepted the fact that I would be spending 10 years in prison, and so this is, it was a surprise”.
The Evin prison in Tehran and the Elburs mountains.
Kildee’s role was praised by many including Hekmati and U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi who tweeted Kildee to thank him “for unrelenting efforts” to help win Hekmati’s release.
A former U.S. Marine recently released from an Iranian prison in a prisoner-swap deal is returning to MI.
Hekmati suffered from health problems, including weight loss and breathing difficulties, according to his family.
Iran detained Rezaian in 2014, eventually charging him with espionage and other crimes, according to The Washington Post.
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On Jan. 16, 2016 news was released that Hekmati, along with three other Americans, were being released from Iran as part of a deal to release seven Iranians in US custody. They were accused of exporting goods ranging from electronic components and satellite services to marine navigation and military equipment to Iran.
