Gathering highlights plight of Mich. man jailed in Iran

GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. -- Supporters of a man jailed in Iran for two years held a fundraiser Wednesday night to help keep his memory alive and put pressure on Iran's government to free him.

At the dinner at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., expressed hope that Iran's newly elected leader could possibly offer some hope for the release of Amir Hekmati.

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"Pray for his release," Dr. Ramy Kurdi of Flushing, a brother-in-law of Hekmati, told about 80 guests who attended the dinner. Each table had "Free Amir" bumper stickers and programs that had a photo of Hekmati in his U.S. Marine Corps uniform. In the back was a display featuring photos of Hekmati and images of prison cells that illustrated his detention, whose two-year anniversary is next week.

Born to immigrants from Iran, Hekmati, 30, was raised in Flint and joined the Marines after graduating from high school. Hekmati later worked in Iraq as a translator and military contractor, founding his own linguistics company.

Hekmati's family said he entered Iran two years ago to visit his grandmother and other relatives. Iran's government claimed he was a spy working for the CIA and jailed him. It initially said it was going to execute him, but he has been taken off death row. He appeared on video about four months later in Iranian custody, and since then, his family has been working to secure his release.

"I believe very deeply in this cause," Levin said at the dinner. "Every human being has a right to freedom and liberty."

He said that officials should "keep Hekmati's name in front of all of us."

"There is a community in Michigan that cares about him."

Levin said Iran's new leader, President Hassan Rouhani, who is seen as more moderate than the country's previous leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, may offer some hope.

"There is some reason to be hopeful there can be a new direction," Levin said. "I have a bit of optimism."

If Iran released Hekmati, it would be a "notable step on a new road."

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, whose district includes Hekmati's family, urged Iran: "Do the right thing and bring Amir home."

Last month, Kildee wrote an open letter that garnered the signatures of both Republicans and Democrats, including every congressman in Michigan. This issue "transcends the political dialogue," Kildee said. Hekmati's story "is so compelling."

Hekmati's oldest sister, Sarah Hekmati, said the dinner was held to "refresh people's memories" about the case, which initially had garnered a lot of attention. It also helped raise money to further publicize his case and lobby officials to pressure for his release. Hekmati's father has been diagnosed with brain cancer and would like to see his son before he dies, family members said.

"Let him come home," pleaded Gina Shkoukani of Bloomfield Hills, a friend of the family. "There's a family who misses him so much."

The dinner featured the singing of Matthew Packer and Richard Thompson of Swartz Creek, who wrote a song dedicated to Amir titled "I Will Fly (Amir's Song)."

"Break the chains that hold me captive," Thompson sang at the dinner. "I will fly."

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