Amir Hekmati Temporarily Ends Hunger Strike

The family of Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine who has been imprisoned in Iran for three years, announced on Tuesday, December 23, that he has temporarily ended his hunger strike. According to the Associated Press, Mr. Hekmati stopped his hunger strike after officials at Evin Prison in Tehran agreed to reconsider his case. He had informed his family about his hunger strike during a phone call on December 15. The family stated in an email to the Associated Press that Evin Prison officials promised to take steps for a review of his case by the judiciary. He emphasized that if no practical action is taken and no tangible results are achieved, he will resume his hunger strike. Mr. Hekmati was arrested in August 2011 while visiting Iran to see his grandmother and was sentenced to death on charges of espionage for the U.S. The U.S. has denied these espionage allegations. After his death sentence, Amir Hekmati appealed the ruling, and the appeals court sentenced him to 10 years in prison for collaborating with hostile governments. According to the Associated Press, Mr. Hekmati wrote a letter to President Barack Obama at the start of his hunger strike, stating: 'Every day I wake up with the hope of receiving news about my freedom and every night I go to sleep in despair. I am still behind the walls of this prison, away from family, friends, and without any meaningful contact with people. Away from my father, who is seriously ill, and the end of this situation is unclear.' Amir Hekmati's father has been diagnosed with brain cancer. He had read this letter during his phone call on December 15 so that his family could write and send it. In this letter, he asked the U.S. President not to forget him while progress is being made in nuclear negotiations with Iran. The letter stated: 'My hope is that after reading this letter, you, or anyone who sees this letter, will help end the nightmare I have been experiencing.' According to the report, Amir Hekmati's family has stated that he is innocent after three years of imprisonment.