Kamran Hekmati didn’t have issues about going to Iran earlier this yr for what was supposed to be a quick journey.
Hekmati, who is Iranian-American and Jewish, had traveled there quite a few instances with household, and he isn’t a political particular person, relations informed NCS.
But the 70-year outdated was arrested and sentenced to jail time by Iranian authorities for visiting Israel 13 years in the past for his son’s bar mitzvah, in accordance to relations who spoke to NCS.
They requested not to be recognized for concern of retaliation towards Hekmati.
Hekmati is affected by bladder most cancers and is at the moment detained in Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison. Although an attraction has been filed, his household is significantly involved about his well being.
The United States doesn’t have a diplomatic presence on the bottom in Iran, and Switzerland which represents US pursuits there, has not been allowed entry to him, his household mentioned.
Rep. Tom Suozzi, who represents Hekmati’s state, referred to as on the State Department to “urgently work toward the release” of his constituent. The New York Democrat mentioned Hekmati must be launched “immediately on humanitarian grounds.”
According to relations, Hekmati was stopped on the airport when he sought to return residence to New York in May. Authorities seized his passport and searched his telephone and social media accounts. In the following months, Hekmati was blocked from leaving the nation and interrogated.
In July, across the time of the so-called “Twelve Day War” between Israel and Iran, Hekmati was arrested, relations mentioned.
He was sentenced, with out authorized illustration, to 4 years in jail underneath a legislation prohibiting Iranian passport holders from touring to Israel. According to his household, which has since employed a lawyer, the punishment underneath the legislation was modified a couple of weeks later, and his sentence was diminished to two years.
Family members mentioned he had footage of the journey on his Facebook.
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Although Hekmati is a US citizen, Iran doesn’t acknowledge twin nationality. Tehran has an extended historical past of imprisoning Americans and the US State Department has warned that “anyone with a U.S. connection, including dual U.S.-Iranian nationals, is at significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention in Iran.”
Asked about Hekmati’s case, a State Department spokesperson mentioned they have been unable to touch upon particular person instances due to “safety and privacy considerations.”
“We continue to engage with allies and partners on this issue and on cases of unjust detention in Iran in general,” they mentioned.
Suozzi, in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, described Hekmati as “a respected and active member of our community.”
“This case has deeply alarmed my constituents, particularly within the large Persian Jewish community on Long Island, and among his colleagues in the government of the Village of Great Neck Estates where he serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals,” he wrote.
Family members described him as a loving father, grandfather, and husband.