Friendship of Two Prisoners from Mashhad to Los Angeles; Michael White: Mehdi Vatankhah 'Risked His Life'

The Associated Press reported on the details of Michael White's assistance, a former American prisoner in Iran, to an Iranian political prisoner. According to the report, Michael White, a former American military member who was arrested in Iran on charges including espionage, helped a man named Mehdi Vatankhah, with whom he became friends in prison, to come to America. The Associated Press wrote that Vatankhah's positions on social issues in Iran angered the Islamic Republic and led to his imprisonment. The report continued: Vatankhah, during his detention and after his release, helped this former American prisoner in Iran by providing important first-hand reports to White's mother about his son's situation in prison and by sending letters while White was incarcerated. White and Vatankhah were both imprisoned in Mashhad at one time. When White was released and came to America, he did not forget Vatankhah's help and, through a lawyer and by following up with the U.S. State Department, was able to assist Vatankhah, who had gone to Turkey after his release from prison, to come to America using a specific type of humanitarian visa. Now, Vatankhah resides in San Diego, where Michael White is from, using that special visa, which is valid for one year, and can apply for asylum to continue living in America. He arrived at Los Angeles airport in the spring. According to the report, Vatankhah did not have good security conditions in Turkey, and his home had been raided by Turkish police, putting him at risk of deportation from that country. Reports have previously emerged about the targeting or abduction and disappearance of opponents of the Islamic Republic in Turkey. Michael R. White, from California, was arrested in the summer of 2018 while traveling to Mashhad to see his Iranian girlfriend. He had traveled to Iran for this purpose five or six times before, according to his mother, and was mistreated in prison and later sentenced to ten years in prison for insulting the leader of the Islamic Republic. He was released from prison in Iran on June 5, 2020, two days after the release of Cyrus Asgari, an Iranian citizen who had been arrested and imprisoned in America. According to the Associated Press, Vatankhah, who is 24 years old, has been imprisoned multiple times for his leftist political activities. Vatankhah stated that he has always dreamed of coming to America as far back as he can remember, and his arrival in America has been the best moment of his life. A part of the report mentions that he has obtained a work permit and found a job as a caregiver (a type of nurse who generally assists elderly and sick individuals). Vatankhah also enjoys the freedom to share his political opinions without fear of retaliation from the regime. He said he can use his freedom to speak out against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Michael White, 50 years old, stated that he was subjected to various tortures, including sexual torture, while imprisoned in Iran. Vatankhah helped White during their friendship to endure his imprisonment and better understand the judicial system, and he assisted him as a translator to communicate with guards and other prisoners. In early 2020, while Vatankhah was on leave, he became White's main channel for communication with the outside world. According to the Associated Press, White said in an interview alongside Vatankhah, 'When I was imprisoned in Iran, he risked his life to get my information out.' White said he told Vatankhah, 'I will do everything I can to get him here (to America) because I felt that one, this (action) was important for his life security, and two, I also felt that he could be a great help to members of the community.' Using the information White provided, Vatankhah contacted Jonathan Frank, a consultant for families of Americans taken and detained who was working on White's case. He also spoke with White's mother and smuggled letters from White to her. Jonathan Frank then assisted in advancing the case for a U.S. humanitarian visa for Vatankhah.