State Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint, left, speaks with Amir Hekmati in the Michigan Senate Chamber on Thursday, May 26, 2016, in Lansing, Mich. Hekmati is a former United States Marine who was detained in August 2011 in Iran on espionage charges. (Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT
Republished May 26, 2016 - 12:44 PM
Original Publication Date May 26, 2016 - 11:35 AM
LANSING, Mich. - A former U.S. Marine who was jailed in Iran for more than four years until his January release said his Thursday visit to the Michigan state Senate for Memorial Day services was "bittersweet."
Amir Hekmati did not directly mention his time in an Iranian prison on Thursday.
"It's always a bittersweet day," Hekmati said of Memorial Day. He called it "sweet because you remember having taken part in our nation's defence, but bitter because of the sacrifices that were made, and some of my fellow Marines that weren't here today."
The 32-year-old Flint, Michigan, resident was jailed in 2011, charged with espionage and sentenced to death in 2012. The death sentence was later overturned by Iran's supreme court and he was instead given a 10-year sentence before his release in a prisoner-swap deal.
Hekmati was born in Arizona and raised in Michigan, where his family still lives in the Flint area. His family has said he was subjected to physical and mental torture, including long periods of solitary confinement in a small cell. He spoke to media about his ordeal in January but did not elaborate further on conditions in the prison.
Hekmati was the guest of Flint Democratic Sen. Jim Ananich during the Senate's annual Memorial Day service, which Hekmati said is the first he has attended in years.
Ananich's office said Hekmati was visiting his grandmother in Iran when he was arrested.
"His presence is an inspiration and testament to the American spirit and the vigilance of thousands of people across the country who would not let him be forgotten," Ananich said in a statement.
Hekmati told reporters his visit to the state Senate was "a very special day for me" and said he's "just happy to be home and back in my home state of Michigan (with) people that have supported me and cared for me."
News from © The Associated Press, 2016