Freed by Iran, Amir Hekmati to return to Flint today

[Siwsan]

I hope people give him privacy so he can spend time with his very ill father. There's time enough for him to share what he wants to share.


WASHINGTON — A former U.S. Marine from Flint who had been held in an Iranian prison for nearly 4½ years is returning to Michigan today.

Less than a week after being released Saturday, Hekmati, 32, and his family are expected to land at Bishop International Airport in Flint about 4 p.m.

Hekmati is not expected to take questions. He spoke to the news media Tuesday outside a medical facility in Germany, where he said he considered himself "extremely lucky" and his entire release "surreal."

"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. I feel extremely blessed," he told reporters.

Hekmati, who was born in the U.S., was visiting relatives in Iran in 2011 when he was detained by authorities and charged with espionage, a crime both his family and the U.S. government rejected as entirely false. He was convicted and initially sentenced to life in prison, though that term was later reduced.

Hekmati was released Saturday along with three other Americans incarcerated in Iran under terms of a swap negotiated with that nation's officials. A fifth American was also released unrelated to the swap. It came as the U.S. and Western nations prepared to lift longstanding economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for severely limiting its nuclear program and allowing inspections.

Amir's sisters, Sarah and Leila Hekmati, and Sarah's husband, Ramy Kurdi, traveled to Germany to meet Amir, who was taken there from Iran by a Swiss aircraft, along with others who had been incarcerated, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, on Sunday.

U.S. Rep Dan Kildee, a Democrat from Flint, who has been a staunch advocate for Hekmati's release and pushed President Barack Obama's administration to secure it, accompanied the family on the trip to Germany. His office released word of Hekmati's impending return.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/01/21/iran-prisoner-amir-hekmati-return-flint/79109022/

[KamaAina]

1. At least he could drink the water in Iran

[Siwsan]

2. You definitely have a point, there

I figure that Congressman Kildee and the Hekmati family will make sure that Amir has plenty of good refreshment, when he gets home.

I can't even begin to imagine the joy that this family is experiencing, right now.

I live about 5 minutes from Bishop Airport, but I'll just wave at his plane, as it passes over my house. I suspect the local media presence will make things pretty chaotic.

[malaise]

3. About to land

Who would have ever imagined the water poisoning and his return home would happen at the same time in Flint

[Siwsan]

5. His plane has landed - all of the local news networks have interrupted programming

I'm pretty teary eyed!

[malaise]

7. He seems pretty teary eyed himself

Thanks lots of folks including the President and his Congressman

[Siwsan]

8. They said he's headed to Flushing, which is just northwest of Flint

This is just such a wonderful, wonderful thing to witness. And some happiness is exactly what my beloved Flint needs, right about now!

Congressman Kildee is an amazing, wonderful man. He truly represents, supports and does all he can for his constituents.

[lame54]

4. as if it hasn't been hellish enough for him

[Siwsan]

6. As a Flint native, I'm not sure what you mean

This is his home. We are all so thrilled and relieved that he is home, and will be able to see his father, who is very, very ill.