The family of a former U.S. Marine detained in Iran for 19 months is pleading for his release. Amir Hekmati, 29, was arrested in August of 2011 while visiting his grandmother in Tehran. He was convicted of spying for the CIA, even though his family and the United States deny such claims. Hekmati was first sentenced to death, but a higher court nullified the penalty in March 2012 and sent the case to another court. At this time, he remains in solitary confinement with little access to a lawyer or family visits.
His family hopes to have him freed before the Iranian New Year later this month; an occasion where the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khanmenei, often pardons non-violent prisoners. His brother-in-law, Ramy Kurdi stated, "We understand there is no mercy shown to prisoners and they're often released. That's our plea as well... we're worried about his mental, physical and emotional well-being."
This is certainly not the only case where U.S. citizens were taken hostage and detained in Iran. After the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian students took 52 U.S. diplomats hostage, and more recently in 2009, three U.S. citizens were arrested during a hike, and accused of spying for the U.S. government. I can only imagine how Hekmati's family must be feeling right now, and I hope that their plea to the Iranian government is answered sooner than later.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-iran-usa-hekmati-idUSBRE92C09420130313
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