Great Neck man imprisoned in Iran for over 300 days considered a 'wrongful detainee' by U.S. State Department
Kamran Hekmati was detained while visiting family. His crime, attending his son's bar mitzvah in Israel 13 years ago.
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A Great Neck man who has been stuck in Iran for over 300 days is one step closer to getting back home.
The U.S. State Department has designated Kamran Hekmati a "wrongful detainee," according to Congressman Tom Suozzi's office.
The 70 year old dual Iranian-American citizen has been imprisoned for over 10 months in Evin Prison, notoriously known for holding political prisoners and for implementing abuse and torture, Suozzi's office contends.
He was detained while visiting family. His crime, attending his son's bar mitzvah in Israel 13 years ago.
Hekmati is a member of the Great Neck Estates Zoning Board of Appeals and is fighting an aggressive form of bladder cancer, Suozzi has previously stated.
Now that Hekmati is designated a "wrongful detainee," the U.S. government can use several means to get him home, including diplomatic, legal and economic.
In a statement, Suozzi said he was grateful to Secretary Marco Rubio for the designation and urged his expedited safe return.
