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'Happy to be home': Amir Hekmati lands in Michigan after release from Iran 'Happy to be home': Amir Hekmati lands in Michigan after release from Iran
(35 minutes later)
After four and a half years in an Iranian prison, Amir Hekmati has finally returned home to Flint, Michigan.After four and a half years in an Iranian prison, Amir Hekmati has finally returned home to Flint, Michigan.
Hekmati, a US marine who was freed in a complex prisoner exchange with Iran last week, arrived at Flint’s Bishop international airport on Thursday afternoon alongside his sisters and brother-in-law. He was greeted on the tarmac by his young nephew and niece, a group of veterans and a crush of reporters eager to know what the young man planned to do with his freedom.Hekmati, a US marine who was freed in a complex prisoner exchange with Iran last week, arrived at Flint’s Bishop international airport on Thursday afternoon alongside his sisters and brother-in-law. He was greeted on the tarmac by his young nephew and niece, a group of veterans and a crush of reporters eager to know what the young man planned to do with his freedom.
“Happy to be home,” Hekmati, 32, told reporters as snow fell on the tarmac. “It’s been a very long road. It’s been a very long journey, and unfortunately many people have traveled this road with me.”“Happy to be home,” Hekmati, 32, told reporters as snow fell on the tarmac. “It’s been a very long road. It’s been a very long journey, and unfortunately many people have traveled this road with me.”
He thanked everyone who fought for his release, from the president to local citizens to his brothers in arms.He thanked everyone who fought for his release, from the president to local citizens to his brothers in arms.
“I’m standing here healthy, tall and with my head held high,” he said, before being escorted away from the media’s glare. “I’m glad to be here and I appreciate everyone’s support once again.”“I’m standing here healthy, tall and with my head held high,” he said, before being escorted away from the media’s glare. “I’m glad to be here and I appreciate everyone’s support once again.”
Hekmati was picked up by Iranian security officials in August 2011, two weeks after arriving in Tehran from Dubai on a family visit. Iran’s security and intelligence apparatus are generally suspicious of dual citizens like Hekmati. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death for spying.Hekmati was picked up by Iranian security officials in August 2011, two weeks after arriving in Tehran from Dubai on a family visit. Iran’s security and intelligence apparatus are generally suspicious of dual citizens like Hekmati. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death for spying.
Iran’s supreme court annulled the death sentence after Hekmati appealed, ordering a retrial in 2012. The country’s revolutionary court then overturned his conviction for espionage, instead charging him with “cooperating with hostile governments” and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Iran’s supreme court annulled the death sentence after Hekmati appealed, ordering a retrial in 2012. The country’s Revolutionary Court then overturned his conviction for espionage, instead charging him with “cooperating with hostile governments” and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
Hekmati was released last week, alongside other Americans including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, Christian minister Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari. A fifth American, a language student, Matt Trevithick, was also released but was not part of the exchange deal.Hekmati was released last week, alongside other Americans including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, Christian minister Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari. A fifth American, a language student, Matt Trevithick, was also released but was not part of the exchange deal.
“I am learning more about the grassroots support I received from ordinary people from across the world over the past 4 1/2 years,” Hekmati said in statement on Wednesday. “I wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything you have done to keep my name apart of the conversation and for the kindness and support that you have given my family during the darkest period of our lives.”“I am learning more about the grassroots support I received from ordinary people from across the world over the past 4 1/2 years,” Hekmati said in statement on Wednesday. “I wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything you have done to keep my name apart of the conversation and for the kindness and support that you have given my family during the darkest period of our lives.”
Before landing in the US, Hekmati was taken to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for treatment.Before landing in the US, Hekmati was taken to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for treatment.
In a press conference outside the hospital on Tuesday, Hekmati said freedom is “like being born again” and said he felt “alive for the first time” in many years.In a press conference outside the hospital on Tuesday, Hekmati said freedom is “like being born again” and said he felt “alive for the first time” in many years.
“I was at a point where I had just sort of accepted the fact that I would be spending 10 years in prison, and so this is, it was a surprise,” he said. “I feel extremely blessed.”“I was at a point where I had just sort of accepted the fact that I would be spending 10 years in prison, and so this is, it was a surprise,” he said. “I feel extremely blessed.”
While Hekmati was in prison, his father, a former university professor, was diagnosed with brain cancer and placed on hospice care. In a interview from August, Hekmati’s sister, Sarah, said her brother was deeply worried he would never see their father again.While Hekmati was in prison, his father, a former university professor, was diagnosed with brain cancer and placed on hospice care. In a interview from August, Hekmati’s sister, Sarah, said her brother was deeply worried he would never see their father again.
Now back in Flint, Hekmati will have the opportunity to reunite with his father and the rest of his family and friends who supported him through his long ordeal.Now back in Flint, Hekmati will have the opportunity to reunite with his father and the rest of his family and friends who supported him through his long ordeal.