Amir Mirza Hekmati: Difference between revisions
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| name = Amir Hekmati |
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| rank = [[Sergeant]]<ref name="MilTimes"/><ref name="USMCRecord"/> |
| rank = [[Sergeant]]<ref name="MilTimes"/><ref name="USMCRecord"/> |
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| servicenumber = <!--Do not use data from primary sources such as service records.--> |
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| unit = [[2nd Battalion, 4th Marines]]<ref name="USMCRecord" |
| unit = [[2nd Battalion, 4th Marines]]<ref name="USMCRecord"/> |
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| commands = |
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| battles = [[Iraq War]]<ref name="MilTimes"/><ref name="USMCRecord"/> |
| battles = [[Iraq War]]<ref name="MilTimes"/><ref name="USMCRecord"/> |
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| alma_mater = B.S. Economics [[University of Michigan]] |
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'''Amir Mirza Hekmati''' ({{lang-fa|امیر میرزا حکمتی}}); is a |
'''Amir Mirza Hekmati''' ({{lang-fa|امیر میرزا حکمتی}}); is a [[United States Marine Corps|United States Marine]] veteran who was arrested in August 2011 for allegedly spying for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] in [[Iran]]. On January 9, 2012, he was sentenced to death for the charges.<ref name=MSNBC>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/45923397|title=Iran sentences US man to death for spying|date=2012-01-09|work=[[NBC News]]|df=dmy-all|access-date=9 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=Afp2011-12-18>{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3o-yDInah1IC8pg7RVH6L-mrMXA?docId=CNG.fad80dffc69b5105a37f43fbbaedadfd.211 |title=Iran TV shows 'CIA spy' speaking of alleged mission |
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|publisher=[[Agence France Presse]] |date=18 December 2011 |access-date=2012-01-09 |quote="It was their plan to first burn some useful information, give it to them (the Iranians) and let the intelligence ministry think that this is good material and contact me afterwards," the clean-shaven man in his 20s said. |author=Marc Burleigh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https:// |
|publisher=[[Agence France Presse]] |date=18 December 2011 |access-date=2012-01-09 |quote="It was their plan to first burn some useful information, give it to them (the Iranians) and let the intelligence ministry think that this is good material and contact me afterwards," the clean-shaven man in his 20s said. |author=Marc Burleigh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108005919/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3o-yDInah1IC8pg7RVH6L-mrMXA?docId=CNG.fad80dffc69b5105a37f43fbbaedadfd.211 |archive-date=8 January 2012 |df=dmy |
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</ref><ref name=X>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/iran-sentences-us-man-to-death-for-spying/3764520|title=Iran sentences US man to death for spying|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=2012-01-09|access-date=2012-01-09|quote=But Hekmati's family in the United States told US media he had traveled to Iran to visit his Iranian grandmothers and he was not a spy.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https:// |
</ref><ref name=X>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/iran-sentences-us-man-to-death-for-spying/3764520|title=Iran sentences US man to death for spying|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=2012-01-09|access-date=2012-01-09|quote=But Hekmati's family in the United States told US media he had traveled to Iran to visit his Iranian grandmothers and he was not a spy.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110013120/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/iran-sentences-us-man-to-death-for-spying/3764520|archive-date=10 January 2012|df=dmy}}</ref> On March 5, 2012, the Iranian Supreme Court overturned the death sentence and ordered a retrial, saying the verdict against Hekmati was "not complete".<ref name="News.nationalpost.com">{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/03/05/iran-overturns-death-sentence-for-former-u-s-marine-amir-mirzai-hekmati-convicted-of-spying/ |title=Iran pulls death penalty for Amir Mirzai Hekmati, former U.S. Marine convicted of spying for CIA | News | National Post |publisher=News.nationalpost.com |date=27 December 2011|access-date=2012-03-06}}</ref><ref name="Family of Amir Hekmati issues statement">{{cite web|last=Al Hajal|first=Khalil|title=Family of Amir Hekmati issues statement marking Iran detainee's birthday as supporters in Flint plan benefit concert|date=28 July 2012 |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/07/family_of_amir_hekmati_issues.html|publisher=M Live|access-date=1 August 2012}}</ref> On January 16, 2016, Hekmati was released and allowed to leave Iran as part of a prisoner trade between the U.S. and Iran.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/16/middleeast/iran-jason-rezaian-prisoners-freed/index.html|title=Reporter Jason Rezaian among 5 Americans freed by Iran |author1=Michael Pearson |author2=Elise Labott|date=16 January 2016 |publisher=CNN|access-date=5 March 2018}}</ref> He returned to the United States on January 21, 2016.<ref name=welcomehome/> He sued the Government of Iran on May 11, 2016.<ref name=lawsuit/> He received a default judgment of $63 million on October 3, 2017. In November 2019 he sued the government for unpaid compensation. According to the assistant attorney general they are reconsidering if he is eligible.<ref name=judgment/> |
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==Early life and education== |
==Early life and education== |
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Hekmati was born in [[Flagstaff, Arizona]]; he has a twin sister, Leila.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-10/iran-sentences-american-to-death-amid-tensions-over-hormuz.html |title=Iran Sentences American to Death Amid Tensions Over Hormuz |magazine=Businessweek |date=2009-12-08 |access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="Thorne">Blake Thorne, [http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2014/05/the_man_who_disappeared_life_b.html The man who disappeared: Life before prison for captured Marine and Flint man Amir Hekmati], MLive (May 18, 2014).</ref> Hekmati's parents, Ali and Behnaz Hekmati, left Iran in 1979 during the [[Iranian Revolution]] and settled in Arizona, where Ali Hekmati finished a Ph.D. in [[microbiology]].<ref name="Thorne"/> |
Hekmati was born in [[Flagstaff, Arizona]]; he has a twin sister, Leila.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-10/iran-sentences-american-to-death-amid-tensions-over-hormuz.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722061930/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-10/iran-sentences-american-to-death-amid-tensions-over-hormuz.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 July 2012 |title=Iran Sentences American to Death Amid Tensions Over Hormuz |magazine=Businessweek |date=2009-12-08 |access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="Thorne">Blake Thorne, [http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2014/05/the_man_who_disappeared_life_b.html The man who disappeared: Life before prison for captured Marine and Flint man Amir Hekmati], MLive (May 18, 2014).</ref> Hekmati's parents, Ali and Behnaz Hekmati, left Iran in 1979 during the [[Iranian Revolution]] and settled in Arizona, where Ali Hekmati finished a Ph.D. in [[microbiology]].<ref name="Thorne"/> |
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The family moved to |
The family moved to Wayne Nebraska and spent several years there before moving to Michigan, where Hekmati's father accepted a position as professor of microbiology at [[Mott Community College]] in [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]].<ref name="Thorne"/><ref name="mlive"/><ref name="Detroit"/> The family lived in Flint and later [[Flint Township, Michigan|Flint Township]].<ref name="Thorne"/> |
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In August 2001, Hekmati enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.<ref name="Thorne"/><ref name="wp">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/an-american-is-caught-in-irans-spy-game/2012/01/23/gIQAw8Z3LQ_story.html |title=An American is caught in Iran's spy game | |
In August 2001, Hekmati enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.<ref name="Thorne"/><ref name="wp">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/an-american-is-caught-in-irans-spy-game/2012/01/23/gIQAw8Z3LQ_story.html |title=An American is caught in Iran's spy game |newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Walter |last=Pincus |date=23 January 2012 |access-date=26 September 2012}}</ref> Amir completed his undergraduate degree in economics at the [[University of Michigan]].<ref>Carmody Steve,[http://michiganradio.org/post/amir-hekmati-one-year-later "Amir Hekmati: One Year Later"], ''Michigan Public Radio'', January 16, 2017</ref> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Hekmati served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 20 August 2001 to 19 August 2005, when he was discharged as a [[Sergeant]].<ref name="Detroit"/><ref name="MilTimes"/><ref name="USMCRecord"/> Hekmati completed recruit training at [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego]], followed by the [[United States Marine Corps School of Infantry|School of Infantry]] at [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton|Camp Pendleton, California]], where he trained as a rifleman.<ref name="Thorne"/> Amir also graduated from the Defense Language Institute having completed the Arabic Language course. He was awarded the [[Combat Action Ribbon]] while deployed as a rifleman, and [[translator]] in [[Iraq]], but he received no [[military intelligence]] training.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/american-amir-hekmati-alleged-cia-spy-held-iran/story?id=15197330#.UGKpQI1lSSo |title=American Held By Iran as CIA 'Spy' Had No Military Intel Training |first=Lee |last=Ferran |work=[[ABC News]] |date=20 December 2011 |access-date=26 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="wp" /> |
Hekmati served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 20 August 2001 to 19 August 2005, when he was discharged as a [[Sergeant]].<ref name="Detroit"/><ref name="MilTimes"/><ref name="USMCRecord"/> Hekmati completed recruit training at [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego]], followed by the [[United States Marine Corps School of Infantry|School of Infantry]] at [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton|Camp Pendleton, California]], where he trained as a rifleman.<ref name="Thorne"/> Amir also graduated from the Defense Language Institute having completed the Arabic Language course. He was awarded the [[Combat Action Ribbon]] while deployed as a rifleman, and [[translator]] in [[Iraq]], but he received no [[military intelligence]] training.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/american-amir-hekmati-alleged-cia-spy-held-iran/story?id=15197330#.UGKpQI1lSSo |title=American Held By Iran as CIA 'Spy' Had No Military Intel Training |first=Lee |last=Ferran |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=20 December 2011 |access-date=26 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="wp" /> |
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After his discharge, Hekmati founded Lucid Linguistics LLC in February 2006 and worked as a military contractor translating [[Arabic (language)|Arabic]] and [[Persian (language)|Persian]].<ref name="wp"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/01/11/Convicted-spys-war-games-work-cited/UPI-10911326300530/ |
After his discharge, Hekmati founded Lucid Linguistics LLC in February 2006 and worked as a military contractor translating [[Arabic (language)|Arabic]] and [[Persian (language)|Persian]].<ref name="wp"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/01/11/Convicted-spys-war-games-work-cited/UPI-10911326300530/ |
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===Espionage arrest and trial=== |
===Espionage arrest and trial=== |
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In August 2011, Hekmati was arrested while visiting his grandmother and other relatives in Iran.<ref name=CNN/> According to his Iranian captors, Hekmati allegedly entered Iran from [[Bagram Airfield]] via [[Dubai]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3o-yDInah1IC8pg7RVH6L-mrMXA?docId=CNG.fad80dffc69b5105a37f43fbbaedadfd.211 |title=Iran TV shows 'CIA spy' speaking of alleged mission |first=Marc |last=Burgleigh |date=18 December 2011}}</ref> On 18 December 2011, a confession by Hekmati appeared on Iranian state television and stated that he had infiltrated Iran in order to establish a CIA presence in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-usa-spy-idUSTRE7BH0RX20111218 |last=Tito |first=Greg |title=Iran state TV airs "confession" of detained CIA spy |date=18 December 2011 |access-date=2012-01-09 |work=Reuters |url-status=live |archive-url=https:// |
In August 2011, Hekmati was arrested while visiting his grandmother and other relatives in Iran.<ref name=CNN/> According to his Iranian captors, Hekmati allegedly entered Iran from [[Bagram Airfield]] via [[Dubai]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3o-yDInah1IC8pg7RVH6L-mrMXA?docId=CNG.fad80dffc69b5105a37f43fbbaedadfd.211 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108005919/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3o-yDInah1IC8pg7RVH6L-mrMXA?docId=CNG.fad80dffc69b5105a37f43fbbaedadfd.211 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2012 |title=Iran TV shows 'CIA spy' speaking of alleged mission |first=Marc |last=Burgleigh |date=18 December 2011}}</ref> On 18 December 2011, a confession by Hekmati appeared on Iranian state television and stated that he had infiltrated Iran in order to establish a CIA presence in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-usa-spy-idUSTRE7BH0RX20111218 |last=Tito |first=Greg |title=Iran state TV airs "confession" of detained CIA spy |date=18 December 2011 |access-date=2012-01-09 |work=Reuters |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109041616/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/18/us-iran-usa-spy-idUSTRE7BH0RX20111218 |archive-date=9 January 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> Hekmati's family said that the [[False confession|confession was coerced]],<ref name=CNN/> and that he was not a spy.<ref name="USMCRecord"/> The family is represented by a U.S. Attorney former Ambassador at Large [[Pierre-Richard Prosper]].<ref name="Mitt Romney Advisor Pierre Prosper hired in Iran spy case.">{{cite news|last=Dover|first=Sara|title=Mitt Romney Advisor Pierre Prosper hired in Iran spy case.|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/279517/20120110/amir-mirzaei-hekmati-mitt-romney-advisor-pierre.htm|newspaper=International Business Times|access-date=1 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="Lawyer takes on Iran spy case">{{cite web|last=Labott|first=Elise|title=EXCLUSIVE: Lawyer takes on Iran spy case|url=http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/10/7473/|publisher=CNN|access-date=1 August 2012}}</ref> |
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Iran alleges that Hekmati's mission was to implicate the country in state-sponsored terrorist activities.<ref name=MSNBC/> On 24 December 2011, Switzerland, which manages diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States, applied for consular access to Hekmati. It was denied.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-us-spy-idUSTRE7BQ19920111227 |title=U.S. citizen goes on trial in Iran on spying charges |date=27 December 2011 |work=Reuters |url-status=live |archive-url=https:// |
Iran alleges that Hekmati's mission was to implicate the country in state-sponsored terrorist activities.<ref name=MSNBC/> On 24 December 2011, Switzerland, which manages diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States, applied for consular access to Hekmati. It was denied.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-us-spy-idUSTRE7BQ19920111227 |title=U.S. citizen goes on trial in Iran on spying charges |date=27 December 2011 |work=Reuters |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230013146/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/27/us-iran-us-spy-idUSTRE7BQ19920111227 |archive-date=30 December 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> In his confession, Hekmati stated that his mission pertained to maintaining a presence, rather than undermining the integrity of the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/28/c_131332137.htm |last=Mingxin |first=Bi |title=Iran holds first trial session of "CIA agent" |date=28 December 2011 |access-date=2012-01-09 |publisher=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229182203/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/28/c_131332137.htm |archive-date=29 December 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> According to excerpts from his alleged confession published in the ''[[Tehran Times]]'', Hekmati said that [[Kuma Reality Games]] was paid by the CIA to design movies and video games to give the customers a distasteful impression of the [[Middle East]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/114877-Jailed-Spy-CIA-Paid-Developer-to-Make-Anti-Middle-East-Games | last = Tito | first = Greg | title = Jailed Spy: CIA Paid Developer to Make Anti-Middle East Games | date = 2012-01-09 | publisher = [[Escapist Magazine]] | access-date = 9 January 2012 | archive-date = 14 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120314234752/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/114877-Jailed-Spy-CIA-Paid-Developer-to-Make-Anti-Middle-East-Games | url-status = dead }} [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/114877-Jailed-Spy-CIA-Paid-Developer-to-Make-Anti-Middle-East-Games mirror] </ref> |
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Iranian officials claim that Hekmati underwent intelligence training after joining the U.S. military in 2001.<ref name=Afp2011-12-18/> They say he worked for the [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] between 2005 and 2007. Shortly before his mission to Iran, they claim he prepared at [[Bagram Airfield]]. An Iranian official attributed his recognition and capture to ''"Iranian networks monitoring activities in the Bagram base"''. |
Iranian officials claim that Hekmati underwent intelligence training after joining the U.S. military in 2001.<ref name=Afp2011-12-18/> They say he worked for the [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] between 2005 and 2007. Shortly before his mission to Iran, they claim he prepared at [[Bagram Airfield]]. An Iranian official attributed his recognition and capture to ''"Iranian networks monitoring activities in the Bagram base"''. |
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==Release== |
==Release== |
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On January 16, 2016, Hekmati was released from Iran along with three other U.S. nationals held prisoner in Iran—Jason Rezaian, Saeed Abedini, and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari—as part of an agreement between the U.S. and Iran. A fifth man, a recently detained student named Matthew Trevithick, was separately released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/16/middleeast/iran-jason-rezaian-prisoners-freed/index.html|title=5 Americans released by Iran, 4 as part of prisoner swap|author=Michael Pearson|access-date=January 16, 2016}}</ref> |
On January 16, 2016, Hekmati was released from Iran along with three other U.S. nationals held prisoner in Iran—Jason Rezaian, Saeed Abedini, and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari—as part of an agreement between the U.S. and Iran. A fifth man, a recently detained student named [[Matthew Trevithick]], was separately released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/16/middleeast/iran-jason-rezaian-prisoners-freed/index.html|title=5 Americans released by Iran, 4 as part of prisoner swap|author=Michael Pearson|website=[[CNN]]|date=16 January 2016 |access-date=January 16, 2016}}</ref> |
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After being freed, Hekmati departed Iran and traveled to [[Landstuhl Regional Medical Center]], a U.S. military hospital in Germany, where he underwent a medical evaluation. Hekmati returned to his family in Flint on January 21, 2016.<ref name=welcomehome>[http://www.abc12.com/home/headlines/Amir-Hekmati-expected-to-arrive-in-Flint-Thursday-366074191.html Amir Hekmati arrives at Flint's Bishop Airport] WJRT-TV, January 21, 2016</ref> |
After being freed, Hekmati departed Iran and traveled to [[Landstuhl Regional Medical Center]], a U.S. military hospital in Germany, where he underwent a medical evaluation. Hekmati returned to his family in Flint on January 21, 2016.<ref name=welcomehome>[http://www.abc12.com/home/headlines/Amir-Hekmati-expected-to-arrive-in-Flint-Thursday-366074191.html Amir Hekmati arrives at Flint's Bishop Airport] WJRT-TV, January 21, 2016</ref> |
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{{Iran–United States relations}} |
{{Iran–United States relations}} |
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{{List of foreign nationals detained in Iran}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hekmati, Amir Mirza}} |
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Revision as of 19:26, 3 July 2024
Amir Hekmati | |
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Birth name | Amir Mirza Hekmati |
Born | Flagstaff, Arizona, U.S. |
Allegiance | United States[1][2] |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps[1][2] |
Years of service | 2001–2005[a] |
Rank | Sergeant[1][2] |
Unit | 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines[2] |
Battles/wars | Iraq War[1][2] |
Awards | |
Alma mater | B.S. Economics University of Michigan |
Relations | Behnaz Hekmati (mother)[3] Ali Hekmati (father)[4][5] Sarah Hekmati (sister)[1] |
Other work | BAE Systems Kuma Reality Games Lucid Linguistics, LLC |
Signature | ![]() |
Amir Mirza Hekmati (Persian: امیر میرزا حکمتی); is a United States Marine veteran who was arrested in August 2011 for allegedly spying for the CIA in Iran. On January 9, 2012, he was sentenced to death for the charges.[6][7][8] On March 5, 2012, the Iranian Supreme Court overturned the death sentence and ordered a retrial, saying the verdict against Hekmati was "not complete".[9][10] On January 16, 2016, Hekmati was released and allowed to leave Iran as part of a prisoner trade between the U.S. and Iran.[11] He returned to the United States on January 21, 2016.[12] He sued the Government of Iran on May 11, 2016.[13] He received a default judgment of $63 million on October 3, 2017. In November 2019 he sued the government for unpaid compensation. According to the assistant attorney general they are reconsidering if he is eligible.[14]
Early life and education
Hekmati was born in Flagstaff, Arizona; he has a twin sister, Leila.[15][16] Hekmati's parents, Ali and Behnaz Hekmati, left Iran in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution and settled in Arizona, where Ali Hekmati finished a Ph.D. in microbiology.[16]
The family moved to Wayne Nebraska and spent several years there before moving to Michigan, where Hekmati's father accepted a position as professor of microbiology at Mott Community College in Flint.[16][4][5] The family lived in Flint and later Flint Township.[16]
In August 2001, Hekmati enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.[16][17] Amir completed his undergraduate degree in economics at the University of Michigan.[18]
Career
Hekmati served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 20 August 2001 to 19 August 2005, when he was discharged as a Sergeant.[5][1][2] Hekmati completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, followed by the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California, where he trained as a rifleman.[16] Amir also graduated from the Defense Language Institute having completed the Arabic Language course. He was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon while deployed as a rifleman, and translator in Iraq, but he received no military intelligence training.[19][17]
After his discharge, Hekmati founded Lucid Linguistics LLC in February 2006 and worked as a military contractor translating Arabic and Persian.[17][20] Amir also developed a language, and cultural training app for the Department of Defense, that was later acquired by Vcom3d, and dubbed the Vcommunicator Mobile.[21] Between 2005 and 2007 he is alleged to have worked on a report on two-way translation systems published by Mitre Corporation for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).[17][22] He is cited in the "Acknowledgements" section of Applying Automated Metrics to Speech Translation Dialogs, a paper published by Mitre Corporation.[23][24] He was later employed by Kuma Reality Games to work on a language-learning video game for the United States Department of Defense.[25]
Between March and September 2010 Hekmati worked in Kansas for BAE Systems, a multinational defense contractor.[26][27] Hekmati worked in Iraq between September 2010 and May 2011 as a culture and language expert.[17][28] According to his parents, Ali and Behnaz Hekmati of Flint, Michigan, Hekmati travelled to Iran after obtaining permission from the Iranian Interests Section of the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C.[29][30]
Espionage arrest and trial
In August 2011, Hekmati was arrested while visiting his grandmother and other relatives in Iran.[29] According to his Iranian captors, Hekmati allegedly entered Iran from Bagram Airfield via Dubai.[31] On 18 December 2011, a confession by Hekmati appeared on Iranian state television and stated that he had infiltrated Iran in order to establish a CIA presence in the country.[32] Hekmati's family said that the confession was coerced,[29] and that he was not a spy.[2] The family is represented by a U.S. Attorney former Ambassador at Large Pierre-Richard Prosper.[33][34]
Iran alleges that Hekmati's mission was to implicate the country in state-sponsored terrorist activities.[6] On 24 December 2011, Switzerland, which manages diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States, applied for consular access to Hekmati. It was denied.[35] In his confession, Hekmati stated that his mission pertained to maintaining a presence, rather than undermining the integrity of the country.[36] According to excerpts from his alleged confession published in the Tehran Times, Hekmati said that Kuma Reality Games was paid by the CIA to design movies and video games to give the customers a distasteful impression of the Middle East.[37]
Iranian officials claim that Hekmati underwent intelligence training after joining the U.S. military in 2001.[7] They say he worked for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency between 2005 and 2007. Shortly before his mission to Iran, they claim he prepared at Bagram Airfield. An Iranian official attributed his recognition and capture to "Iranian networks monitoring activities in the Bagram base".
On 9 January 2012, Islamic Revolutionary Court declared Hekmati to be "Corrupt on Earth" (Mofsed-e-filarz) and an "enemy of God" (Mohareb). It sentenced him to death for cooperating with the United States.[6]
Death sentence annulled
On 5 March 2012, Iran's Supreme Court overturned the death sentence and ordered a retrial. The judges said the verdict against Hekmati was "not complete" and ordered a retrial.[9][38] Hekmati awaited a retrial[10] until April 2014, when his sister announced that a secret court had again convicted him of "practical collaboration with the U.S. government" and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.[39]
Calls for release
President Barack Obama repeatedly called upon Iran to release Hekmati as well as other U.S. citizens that were held prisoner, such as The Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and Christian pastor Saeed Abedini.[40][41]
On May 11, 2015, the United States Senate unanimously passed, 90–0, a resolution calling upon the Iranian government to immediately release Hekmati, Abedini, and Rezaian, and to cooperate with the U.S. government to locate and return Robert Levinson, a retired FBI agent reported missing in Iran. The resolution also called upon the U.S. government to undertake every effort using every diplomatic tool at its disposal to secure their release.[42]
Release
On January 16, 2016, Hekmati was released from Iran along with three other U.S. nationals held prisoner in Iran—Jason Rezaian, Saeed Abedini, and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari—as part of an agreement between the U.S. and Iran. A fifth man, a recently detained student named Matthew Trevithick, was separately released.[43]
After being freed, Hekmati departed Iran and traveled to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a U.S. military hospital in Germany, where he underwent a medical evaluation. Hekmati returned to his family in Flint on January 21, 2016.[12]
Lawsuit
On May 11, 2016, Hekmati sued the Government of Iran for his ordeal, with charges of economic damages, compensatory damages, and punitive damages, claiming he was tortured, which included electric shock and forced drug withdrawal.[13]
On October 3, 2017, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Ellen S. Huvelle granted Hekmati a default judgment of $63 million.[14]
Awards and decorations
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See also
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f Harkins, Gina (17 May 2013). "Iran holds former Marine for almost 2 years: Dad sick with cancer, family seeks release". Military Times. Gannett Company, Inc. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Harris, David (9 January 2012). "U.S. Marine Corps releases Amir Hekmati's service record". The Flint Journal. MLive. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Ferran, Lee (22 February 2012). "Mom Visits Amir Hekmati, Former US Marine Sentenced to Death in Iran: Convicted of Espionage, 28-Year-Old Appeared Thin and Shocked on Death Row, Mom Says". ABC News. ABC News Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- ^ a b Adams, Dominic (25 September 2012). "Vigil for Amir Hekmati tonight at Mott". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- ^ a b c Anderson, Elisha (25 September 2012). "Flint family has message for Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Let our son out of prison". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- ^ a b c "Iran sentences US man to death for spying". NBC News. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ a b Marc Burleigh (18 December 2011). "Iran TV shows 'CIA spy' speaking of alleged mission". Agence France Presse. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
"It was their plan to first burn some useful information, give it to them (the Iranians) and let the intelligence ministry think that this is good material and contact me afterwards," the clean-shaven man in his 20s said.
- ^ "Iran sentences US man to death for spying". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
But Hekmati's family in the United States told US media he had traveled to Iran to visit his Iranian grandmothers and he was not a spy.
- ^ a b "Iran pulls death penalty for Amir Mirzai Hekmati, former U.S. Marine convicted of spying for CIA | News | National Post". News.nationalpost.com. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- ^ a b Al Hajal, Khalil (28 July 2012). "Family of Amir Hekmati issues statement marking Iran detainee's birthday as supporters in Flint plan benefit concert". M Live. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ Michael Pearson; Elise Labott (16 January 2016). "Reporter Jason Rezaian among 5 Americans freed by Iran". CNN. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ a b Amir Hekmati arrives at Flint's Bishop Airport WJRT-TV, January 21, 2016
- ^ a b Former Marine Amir Hekmati sues Iran for alleged torture CNN, May 11, 2016
- ^ a b Judge orders Iran to pay Amir Hekmati $63 million for imprisonment, torture The Flint Journal via MLive.com, October 3, 2017
- ^ "Iran Sentences American to Death Amid Tensions Over Hormuz". Businessweek. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Blake Thorne, The man who disappeared: Life before prison for captured Marine and Flint man Amir Hekmati, MLive (May 18, 2014).
- ^ a b c d e Pincus, Walter (23 January 2012). "An American is caught in Iran's spy game". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ Carmody Steve,"Amir Hekmati: One Year Later", Michigan Public Radio, January 16, 2017
- ^ Ferran, Lee (20 December 2011). "American Held By Iran as CIA 'Spy' Had No Military Intel Training". ABC News. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "Convicted spy's war-games work cited". United Press International. 11 January 2012.
- ^ "Limited Liability Company Details". www.dleg.state.mi.us. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ Martin, Adam (19 December 2011). "Iran Shows the Man It Alleges Is a U.S. Spy on State Television". The Atlantic.
- ^ Mitre Corporation. "Applying Automated Metrics to Speech Translation Dialogs" (PDF). International Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation. p. 8. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ Parvaz, Dan. "Applying Automated Metrics to Speech Translation Dialogs". Mitre Corporation.
- ^ Totilo, Stephen (29 August 2012). "The United States Government Kindly Asks Iran To Free Imprisoned American Game Developer Already". Kotaku.
- ^ Rozen, Laura (9 January 2012). "U.S. condemns reported Iran death sentence for former U.S. Marine". Yahoo News.
- ^ Karimi, Nasser; Brian Murphy (9 January 2012). "Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, Former U.S. Marine, Sentenced To Death In Iran". Huffington Post.
- ^ "Amir Mirzaei Hekmati". The New York Times. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ a b c Death row American's lawyer calls for compassion from Iran By Bryony Jones, CNN | 10 January 2012
- ^ Newton, Paula (25 September 2012). "Father fears he may never see his son imprisoned in Iran". CNN.
- ^ Burgleigh, Marc (18 December 2011). "Iran TV shows 'CIA spy' speaking of alleged mission". Archived from the original on 8 January 2012.
- ^ Tito, Greg (18 December 2011). "Iran state TV airs "confession" of detained CIA spy". Reuters. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
- ^ Dover, Sara. "Mitt Romney Advisor Pierre Prosper hired in Iran spy case". International Business Times. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ Labott, Elise. "EXCLUSIVE: Lawyer takes on Iran spy case". CNN. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ "U.S. citizen goes on trial in Iran on spying charges". Reuters. 27 December 2011. Archived from the original on 30 December 2011.
- ^ Mingxin, Bi (28 December 2011). "Iran holds first trial session of "CIA agent"". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
- ^ Tito, Greg (9 January 2012). "Jailed Spy: CIA Paid Developer to Make Anti-Middle East Games". Escapist Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012. mirror
- ^ Ferran, Lee. "15. Report: American Ex-Marine 'spy' in Iran to get retrial". ABC News. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ Sciutto, Jim; Chelsea J. Carter (11 April 2014). "Family: Ex-US Marine convicted in Iran, sentenced to 10 years prison". Cable News Network. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ David Jackson, Obama calls on Iran to release U.S. citizens, USA Today (March 20, 2015).
- ^ Obama calls on Iran to release 'unjustly detained' Americans, The Guardian (July 21, 2015). See also President Obama Calls for the Release of Amir Hekmati and Other Americans Held in Iran, C-SPAN (video of July 21, 2015 speech to Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention).
- ^ Senate Calls on Iran to Release U.S. Citizens, United States Institute of Peace (May 11, 2015).
- ^ Michael Pearson (16 January 2016). "5 Americans released by Iran, 4 as part of prisoner swap". CNN. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
External links
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- Living people
- 1983 births
- People from Flagstaff, Arizona
- United States Marines
- United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War
- American people convicted of spying for the United States by the Islamic Republic of Iran
- American people imprisoned in Iran
- American prisoners sentenced to death
- Prisoners sentenced to death by Iran
- Flint Central High School alumni
- American twins
- University of Michigan alumni
- Foreign nationals detained in Iran