An enormous-hearted, cancer-stricken Lengthy Island jeweler has been jailed in Iran for the alleged crime of visiting Israel 13 years in the past — leaving his more and more determined household pleading for his launch.
Kamran Hekmati, 70, a twin US and Iranian citizen, was rounded up by the saber-rattling regime within the spring, throughout one among his many travels again to his beloved dwelling nation, his cousin Shohreh Nowfar advised The Put up.
Iranian officers finally despatched Hekmati to the notoriously brutal Evin Jail as punishment for his Israel journey, throughout which he had attended his son’s bar mitzvah.
The continuing Kafka-by-way-of-Tehran nightmare prompted Hekmati’s household and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Lengthy Island) to push Secretary of State Marco Rubio for assist.
“He simply needs to come back dwelling,” Nowfar mentioned. “Anytime he talks, he says ‘Get me out of right here.’”
Kamran Hekmati / LinkedIn
Hekmati, a Persian Jew, immigrated to the US when he was roughly 13 years in the past, however by no means misplaced ties to Iran, Nowfar mentioned.
Whilst Hekmati constructed a brand new American life — working a Diamond District enterprise, thriving in Lengthy Island’s giant Persian Jewish group and sitting on the Nice Neck Estates Zoning Board of Appeals — he usually returned to his dwelling nation for typically months-long holidays and household journeys, his cousin mentioned.
“He completely beloved Iran,” Nowfar mentioned. “He goes two, thrice a 12 months. He has numerous pals there.”
Earlier than Hekmati’s fateful spring journey to Iran, he underwent surgical procedure and chemotherapy for aggressive bladder most cancers.
Nowfar, who lives in Los Angeles, mentioned Hekmati has to obtain remedy each three months — however that fell into limbo when Iranian authorities first confiscated his passport after which finally sentenced him to jail.
“The federal government says that his sentence is as a result of he went to Israel, or what they name occupied land, seven years in the past,” she mentioned.
“However in actuality, he went there 13 years in the past, not seven years in the past, and the legislation handed about going to Israel, about six, seven years in the past. So, he went there earlier than the legislation handed in Iran. That was for his son’s bar mitzvah.”
Hekmati’s sentence was initially 4 years, however has since been decreased to 2, the New York Occasions first reported.
He’s additionally one among 4 People being held by Iran, the Occasions reported.
Nowfar mentioned Hekmati is simply in a position to contact household by pals and his Iranian lawyer — and so they don’t even know what a part of Evin jail he’s in, or if he’s getting correct medical care.
“They don’t permit any exterior physician to go to the prisoner,” she mentioned. “And we don’t know what the state of affairs is with the jail’s hospital. However so far as I do know he hasn’t been getting the quarterly remedy he wants.”
The dire state of affairs prompted Suozzi this week to ship a formal letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling for quick motion.
“This case is deeply troubling,” Suozzi mentioned in a press release.
“Mr. Hekmati is a cherished member of the Lengthy Island group. He isn’t solely a revered public servant serving on the Nice Neck Estates Zoning Board of Appeals, however he’s additionally battling an aggressive type of bladder most cancers. He should be launched instantly on humanitarian grounds.”
Hekmani’s household — who, other than Nowfar, declined to remark — has additionally been in contact with Rubio’s workplace and international dignitaries, his cousin mentioned.
“We’re hoping that they will do one thing about it,” Nowfar mentioned. “We’re simply sitting tight and hoping. He’s a really form, very big-hearted individual. And he tries to assist anyone in misery.
“The irony is that the nation that he beloved a lot, the nation that he adored a lot, took him to jail.”
