A Navy veteran who was jailed in Iran for several years recently repaid the generosity of a fellow inmate who helped him behind bars. American Michael White sponsored an application for humanitarian parole for Mahdi Vatankhah, an Iranian he had met while the two were locked up in Mashhad prison. That’s allowed Vatankhah to live at least temporarily in the United States and he’s applied for asylum. Vatankhah provided information about White’s status and health to White’s mother and shared letters that White had written while he was in prison. White says in an Associated Press interview that his friend risked his life to get out that information.
“He risked his life to get the information out for me when I was in the prison in Iran. He really, really did,” White said in an interview alongside Vatankhah. “I told him I would do everything I could in my power to get him here because I felt, one, that would be for his safety in his own life. And also I felt he could be a great contributing member of society here.”
White, 50, a Southern California native who spent 13 years in the Navy, was arrested in Iran in 2018 after traveling to the country to pursue a romantic relationship with a woman he met online. He was jailed on various charges, including espionage accusations that he calls bogus, as well as allegations of insulting Iran's supreme leader.
Though Vatankhah was later released, he was arrested again, this time winding up in the same cell as White in Iran's Mashhad prison. The detailed information about White, his status and his health — he suffered from cancer and COVID-19 in prison — came at a crucial time, providing a proof-of-life of sorts at a time of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran due to a U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who led the expeditionary Quds Force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
Vatankhah wrote in his own petition that the situation was unsafe for him in Turkey. He noted that Turkish police had raided his home and that he remained at risk of deportation to Iran.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A US Navy veteran got unexpected help while jailed in Iran. Once released, he repaid the favorMahdi Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped White by providing White’s mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her son’s status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up.
Read more »
Chicago White Sox: GM Chris Getz outlines needed improvementsNew Chicago White Sox GM Chris Getz discussed some of the improvements the team is looking for offensively, defensively and on the mound.
Read more »
Kamala Harris mocked for ‘granny moves’ at White House Hip-Hop party“Pure cringe,” one X user wrote, as another simply said “yuck.”
Read more »
Skubal and Vierling lead the Tigers to a 3-1 victory over the White SoxTarik Skubal pitched five scoreless innings and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Read more »
Skubal and Vierling lead the Tigers to a 3-1 victory over the White SoxThe White Sox struck out 15 times.
Read more »
Jeff Rosenstock Stages a Courtroom Drama at White Oak Music HallThe pandemic has brought into focus our love-hate relationship with one another. Pettiness, selfishness and inconsideration rule the news cycle and news feeds. But, those flaws co-exist with examples of compassion and courage in the face of our recent uncertainties. The urge to make things better for others literally brought...
Read more »