Mom visits ex-Marine sentenced to death in Iran

FLINT, Mich. - The mother of a former U.S. Marine sentenced to death in Iran on a spying conviction has visited her son in an Iranian prison, a spokesman for the Michigan family said Tuesday.

Eric Volz said that Benhaz Hekmati was able to see her 28-year-old son Amir several times during a visit to Iran. The visit was first reported by The New York Times.

Volz said the trip went well, and there were no problems with the interactions she had with Iranian authorities. She has since returned home, he said.

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The visit is a possible good sign that the Iranians may be willing to discuss his case further. Tensions have been high for years between the U.S. and Iran, and several dual citizens have been jailed by the Iranian government on various charges.

Amir Hekmati is a former military translator and holds dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship. He was born in Arizona and attended high school in Michigan.

Hekmati's family said he was in Iran to visit his grandmothers when he was arrested. Iranian prosecutors say Hekmati was working for the CIA.

Iran accuses Hekmati of receiving special training and serving at U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan before heading to Iran for an alleged intelligence mission. In December, Iran broadcast a video on state television in which Hekmati was shown delivering a purported confession in which he said he was part of a plot to infiltrate Iran's Intelligence Agency.

He was sentenced to death in January. The U.S. government has called Hekmati a victim of false charges.

[berlinfoto-2009]

The United States has a or several spy agencies that are out of control, have never had proper control.
When a family member with connections, to one of the agencies, or who is employed by one of the agencies can order the murderers of his family members, in order to gain control of their assets, then there is a problem. I sued a primarily family owned firm, the Federal Judge asked me at the door way to the court room before the hearing" Just what to you know about the OSS?" This was in about 1995, obviously I did not know enough then, maybe today I do.
Have you ever watched one the PETA Video of the abuse of the monkeys, well I know what it is like to be one of those monkeys.
Probably three family members murdered between 1950, and three more between 1971 and 1973.
The amount of money and assets pilfered is astronomical.
Burn all spies at the stake, snitches as well, and secret police, and America will be a better place in the future.

[berlinfoto-2009]

Should read "1950 and 1956", then three more ....

[rightontarget]

Well, if he WAS spying he knew the risks and if he wasn't it is a real shame but there is NO good reason anyone in their right mind, relatives in the country or not, has any good reason to go "visit" Iran. (especally in this day and age) Iran is lead by a real nut job and that country is just looking for a way to start sh*t. Hopefully we won't accomodate them.

[jwilsonte]

This itot was there for a reason this punk "marine"Do the crime get cot be a man take the punishment dont be a cry baby bobbohooo

[NeoCon_ChickenHawk]

Where is the Nobama administration's outrage at the wrongful imprisonment of a US citizen. Come on Nobama, get on the ball and demand our Marine be returned!!!!!

[alinrodneyvil]

How the Hell do you know he was falsely accused. I'll bet you don't know squat about this case and already you've got an opinion.