The UM community taking care of its own (Amir Hekmati)
What I am about to say involves politics, but is not political, if that makes any sense. A young man I went to High School with, named Amir Hekmati, is set to be executed by the Iranian government. He was arrested for espionage, claiming he was working for the CIA. He was sentenced to death in a sham of a trial, and before that, "confessed" to being a spy, under what most believe to be force.
There is a petition online, that I am asking the MGoBlog community to sign, showing support for Amir. I'm not sure the effect it will have, but it's the least any of us can do to save an innocent man from death.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/immediate-unconditional-release-of-amir-hekmati.html
To learn more about Amir and his family, feel free to visit http://freeamir.org/
Amir was a HUGE Michigan fan, and I'd like to think the Wolverine family would look out for their own. He also served his country in both Iraq and Afghanistan in the armed forces, and this would be a great way to repay his family for his sacrafice. I'm asking the Moderators to please not delete this, it is important, and I think we owe at least this much to Amir, and to his family.
Save Amir!
January 9th, 2012 at 4:25 PM ^
Signed.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:25 PM ^
I have signed and hope that they will release him. My thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends
January 9th, 2012 at 4:27 PM ^
His family states that he was visiting his grandparents and has nothing to do with the CIA. Unfortunately trials in Iran are a sham. They've made ridiculous judgements like this in the past only to change their minds at the last minute. I hope to god this happens. I suggest you all sign the petition.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:31 PM ^
Signed, and you have my support.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:34 PM ^
Out of curiosity, did Amir go to Michigan? My thoughts to him and his family, and here is hope that he can be brought home safely.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^
He went straight to the Marines out of high school, but his sister attended UM.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:57 PM ^
Amir did not, but at least 2 of his sisters are Michigan alums.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:39 PM ^
"We're going to execute him" is Iran's saying they want a bigger bribe.
Best of luck to Amir. I'd also encourage MGoBlog members to call their represenatives directly about this issue.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:39 PM ^
Also, prayers sent.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:40 PM ^
Terrible story. Hopefully it works out.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^
Fuck Iran and Go Blue. Signed
January 9th, 2012 at 4:48 PM ^
maybe I'll play that number. Best of Luck to Amir and his family during this trying time.
January 9th, 2012 at 4:54 PM ^
#2515
Praying for Amir's saftey and release.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:01 PM ^
2452
January 9th, 2012 at 5:05 PM ^
Prayers out to Amir and his family.... go blue
January 9th, 2012 at 5:09 PM ^
Best of luck to Amir and his family.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^
I suspect that while we may not have direct diplomatic relations with Iran, the State Deparment is actively involved. I can't begin to imagine what his family and Amir are going through.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^
#2584
January 9th, 2012 at 5:15 PM ^
Signed... I've seen first hand (Venezuela) the atrocities that these governments can commit. Best of luck to him and his family. #2585
January 9th, 2012 at 5:15 PM ^
2587
January 9th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
This is about the fifth instance of the Iranian government pulling this kind of crap. No American citizen should set foot in that country as long as the current regime is in place; you will have no recourse if they decide to snatch you. Achmadinejibberjabber and the mullahs would like nothing more than to provoke a military response from the U.S. or Israel, since that would give them carte blanche to crack down on all domestic Iranian critics and opponents of the government.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
#2592
January 9th, 2012 at 5:22 PM ^
Hope this helps...
January 9th, 2012 at 5:23 PM ^
Signed. Hope he's able to get out of there.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:25 PM ^
Signed
and this is why I stay the hell out of Iran family there or not. Good luck and God Bless Amir
Edit: since a few others did this
You are signer #2617
January 9th, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^
signed
January 9th, 2012 at 5:29 PM ^
2625
January 9th, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^
I'm praying that this is just a power play, trying to goad the US into negotiating (which, we all know they won't do) or easing off on the economic sanctions that are crippling the nation. The document they have posted on CNN is just his Marine ID. If he was truly CIA, he would have no paperwork remaining, including his military past. Hopefully they drag this out trying to get something out of it and realize they won't and release him. I mean, the guy has family in Iran.
Signed.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:46 PM ^
2664 - keeping Amir and his family in my thoughts and prayers.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:49 PM ^
I was shocked to hear about this terrible situation. Amir and his family are good people (his parents live a street over from my father) and I can't imagine the kind of harrowing experience this must be for them all. My prayers are that they can find some moments of peace and calm during this ordeal and of course that Amir is released as soon as possible.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:51 PM ^
Signed. Best of luck to him. This needs to have far more attention in the media as this is the first I have heard of it.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:55 PM ^
Signed - 2685. I will pray that he gets released.
January 9th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
Signed. This kinda shit from the Iranian government is a complete travesty. I hope Amir makes it home safely.
January 9th, 2012 at 6:30 PM ^
2763...God's Speed Amir.
January 9th, 2012 at 6:32 PM ^
This story hit my yahoo frontpage. It's a big deal, first American sentenced to death since the year I was born, 1979. I hope our government negotiates his way home.
January 9th, 2012 at 6:40 PM ^
You are signer #2781
January 9th, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
#2773....hope you make it home
January 9th, 2012 at 6:47 PM ^
This is terrible, and is wrong.
I will risk the banhammer to make both a brief political and religious comment. It is worth it to me.
Violence and terror of this kind is absolutely deplorable, unacceptable, and intolerable. However, what I find almost more deplorable is the silence of those who come from the same background as is common in Iran. If those individuals in the United States coming from the Middle East and from a Muslim background fail to speak publicly, clearly and unequivocally against such actions, well their silence speaks louder than words. At best, it shows cowardice. At worst, it shows complicit approval.
On Christmas Eve, dozens of Nigerian Christians were killed by Muslim extremists. This in itself is very sad. But to date, I have not seen or heard of a clear renunciation by American Muslims of such behavior. For instance, the University of Michigan Muslim Student's Association website is silent. (Link: http://www.muslims.studentorgs.umich.edu/.) I have sent them an e-mail requesting information as to whether or not they have spoken on these issues. I am sceptical about whether I will receive a response, let alone a statement condemning such violence.
January 9th, 2012 at 7:24 PM ^
Your post is an EPIC FAIL. Way to use this tragic incident as an excuse to cast fear and bigotry upon Muslims. Your argument is also flawed and hypocritical, since Muslims could use the same stupid logic to criticize American Christians for re-electing Bush despite his having started two wars in Muslim countries. Amir Hekmati is an American Muslim, and the fact that he was a Marine and did more to serve his country than you ever will should make you feel ashamed of yourself.
You should get hit with the banhammer, you fucking idiot. Get the fuck off the soapbox.
January 9th, 2012 at 7:27 PM ^
Way to extrapolate that from his post - get lost man, seriously. Nodody here wants to read your BS.
January 9th, 2012 at 7:29 PM ^
I don't see why he should be banned just because he said something to offend you. To say that he used "this tragic incident as an excuse to cast fear and bigotry upon Muslims" is nothing but hyperbole and, along with your other choices in words, an ad-hominem attack that makes you look like the "fucking idiot". And I say this as someone who has actually served in the US military. Learn to debate someone respectfully instead of being another internet tough guy who would never say that to someone in real life.
January 9th, 2012 at 7:45 PM ^
Read over the rest of my posts on this site; I am far from an "internet tough guy". I am perfectly capable of engaging in a reasonable debate. But bigotry and racism cross the line. Bigots deserve nothing but contempt. Re-read his post and substitute "Jew" or "Catholic" for "Muslim". Would his views sound reasonable then? Would a Jew who objected to an anti-Semitic post not be right in calling for the banhammer? This guy is accusing Muslims as a whole of cowardice or of being complicit in this tragedy (and WTF do the attacks in Nigeria have to do with Amir Hekmati, BTW?), which is gallingly ironic since Amir Hekmati is himself a Muslim and a United States Marine.
There are many opinions that are entitled to respect, even in disagreement. Bigotry towards an entire race or religion is not among them.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:12 PM ^
Muslim anywhere in the posting at all. Your overall message is not false, but it seems to me you're just looking for a poltical fight on mgoblog, which - to be honest - is extremely annoying.
Ironic that you tell the OP to get off his soapbox, when he's is just trying to raise awareness of an injustice. But yet, you come on here (on your soapbox) screaming of injustice. Talk about hypocritical.
Compound that with the fact the neither link in the post even makes mention of the word Muslim and no subsequent poster has mentioned it either.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:29 PM ^
Umm, what? Muslims are the very people he's talking about:
If those individuals in the United States coming from the Middle East and from a Muslim background fail to speak publicly, clearly and unequivocally against such actions, well their silence speaks louder than words. At best, it shows cowardice. At worst, it shows complicit approval. On Christmas Eve, dozens of Nigerian Christians were killed by Muslim extremists. This in itself is very sad. But to date, I have not seen or heard of a clear renunciation by American Muslims of such behavior. For instance, the University of Michigan Muslim Student's Association website is silent.
I was reacting to a bigoted rant against an entire religion. The guy is using a tragedy in which the victim is, ironically enough, a Muslim and a Marine to imply that Muslims as a whole are complicit in anti-American, anti-Christian violence by fringe extremists. That's a textbook example of bigotry. I don't think my reaction was at all inappropriate. I am a reasonable person, but I have no tolerance for bigotry.
EDIT: You seem to be under the impression that I was replying to the OP. I'm not replying to the OP, I'm replying to StephenRKass' bigoted rant above. Hope that clarifies.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:53 PM ^
My mistake. DIdn't see his comment because it was hidden. Well in that case, I really have no problem with what you're saying. I agree with you - can't paint an entire religion/race/faith/people etc. with a broad stroke. That being said, due to the history between the two factions - one cannot help but be cautious - as evidenced by this very example. But of course, that's where the slippery slope of bigotry/profiling, etc that perpetuates the problem. It's really all learned behavior, and I hope that one day we can all move past it.
My apologizes - I thought you were responding to the OP.
January 10th, 2012 at 12:05 AM ^
No worries.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:32 PM ^
You should probably have done some research (even a quick google search) before you decided to make such far-reaching sweeping generalizations. To the specific incident that you mentioned, hope this satisfies your desire for a condemnation from the Muslim community:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/cair/cair-condemns-church-attacks-in-egyp…
As a member of the Muslim faith, is it really my job to go around denouncing and condemning every thing that is done in the name of my beliefs? I condemn it in my heart, and I condemn it by not acting in a similar fashion by being a productive member of society. I condemn it by being a good neighbor and co-worker. On that token, should we as Americans be obligated to go around and condemn every act of aggression that may be committed in the name of American freedom? I think not.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:37 PM ^
Signed btw....2294
Above was in response to StephenRKass, not OP. Not sure if you can tell from the stream of replies.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:39 PM ^
Feels weird to be thanking a reasonable Spartan for telling off a bigoted Wolverine, but THANK YOU.
We're all Americans irrespective of our faith, and that kind of bigoted rhetoric is dangerous and un-American no matter who it comes from and no matter who the target is.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:56 PM ^
Thanks,
Despite our rep, we're not that bad....both Muslims and Spartans :)