ABC, CBS, and NBC's morning and evening newscasts were too busy giving 48 minutes of coverage to Bruce Jenner's Vanity Fair photo spread to give one second of coverage to the four Americans currently being held hostage by the oppressive regime in Iran. NBC mentioned two of them – Amir Hekmati and Robert Levinson – back on the April 24, 2015 edition of NBC Nightly News. However, ABC and CBS haven't covered Hekmati's captivity since 2013, according to a search on Nexis.
To his credit, Don Lemon brought new attention to the humanitarian issue during a segment on Tuesday's CNN Tonight. Lemon interviewed Hekmati's sister, Sarah; his brother-in-law, Ramy Kurdi; and TV personality Montel Williams about the veteran's many years of suffering. Ms. Hekmati, along with family members of the three other Americans, had testified in front of House Committee on Foreign Affairs earlier in the day. [video below]
NBC's Chris Jansing mentioned Hekmati and Levinson as she covered the accidental killing of Warren Weinstein, who was held hostage by al Qaeda in Pakistan:
CHRIS JANSING: ...While the State Department won't release exact numbers, at least six Americans are believed to be held overseas – including Caitlin Coleman, who was pregnant when she was captured in Afghanistan in 2012; in Iran, Amir Hekmati, and Robert Levinson, a father of seven; and journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria – with their families at home still waiting and hoping.
Lemon led his segment about Hekmati by trumpeting how "Montel Williams is a man with a mission: freeing Marine Corps veteran Amir Hekmati, who has been a prisoner in Iran for four years." The CNN anchor turned to the veteran's sister first, who underlined during her congressional testimony that Iranian authorities have tortured her brother:
DON LEMON: He is one of four Americans currently being held prisoner in Iran...and you and their families testified before the House Foreign Relations Committee this morning. I want you to listen.
SARAH HEKMATI, SISTER OF AMIK HEKMATI, US MARINE HELD IN IRAN (from congressional hearing): As a tourist, Amir was kidnapped from the home of his relatives, and taken to Evin Prison. As a tourist, he was held in a one meter by one meter cell – allowed out for only ten minutes a week to stretch his legs. He was beaten on his feet with cables; Tasered repeatedly. He was held for months in solitary confinement.
LEMON (live): Sarah, what is it like to imagine your brother in those conditions?
HEKMATI: I can't even look at a coffee table the same way. I can't look at a dressing room the same way. I mean, for any of you that can imagine being in a one meter by one meter space, imagine being in that for several months back-to-back, and not being allowed to come out of that for more than ten minutes once a week. I can't. It's so difficult and traumatic for my family. And I don't even know how my brother, when I hear his voice – when he calls, he still sounds like the same brother, but I can't imagine what his mind has gone through.
Later in the segment, Williams spotlighted the crowdfunding website that has been set up to help free Hekmati, while Kurdi pointed out that his brother-in-law has "committed no crime...our plea is for diplomatic release – not any conditions. Amir himself wanted an unconditional release. So, that's really our push."
The full transcript of the segment from Tuesday's CNN Tonight:
DON LEMON: Montel Williams is a man with a mission: freeing Marine Corps veteran Amir Hekmati, who has been a prisoner in Iran for four years. And Montel joins me now, along with Sarah Hekmati, the sister of Amir Hekmati; and Ramy Kurdi, his brother-in-law. Hello, to all of you. Thank you for joining us.
SARAH HEKMATI, SISTER OF AMIK HEKMATI, US MARINE HELD IN IRAN: Thank you for having us-
MONTEL WILLIAMS: Thanks-
RAMY KURDI, BROTHER-IN-LAW OF AMIR HEKMATI, US MARINE HELD IN IRAN: Thank you-
LEMON: Sarah, your brother, Amir, is a former U.S. Marine – has been held in Iran since 2011. Does your family have contact with Amir?
HEKMATI: You know, over the past year, we've been allowed contacts – some short phone calls once a day – with my mother primarily. But prior to that, we had no communication with him.
LEMON: He is one of four Americans currently being held prisoner in Iran-
HEKMATI: That's correct-LEMON: And you and their families testified before the House Foreign Relations (sic) Committee this morning. I want you to listen.
HEKMATI (from congressional hearing): As a tourist, Amir was kidnapped from the home of his relatives, and taken to Evin Prison. As a tourist, he was held in a one meter by one meter cell – allowed out for only ten minutes a week to stretch his legs. He was beaten on his feet with cables; Tasered repeatedly. He was held for months in solitary confinement.
LEMON: Sarah, what is it like to imagine your brother in those conditions?
HEKMATI: I can't even look at a coffee table the same way. I can't look at a dressing room the same way. I mean, for any of you that can imagine being in a one meter by one meter space, imagine being in that for several months back-to-back, and not being allowed to come out of that for more than ten minutes once a week. I can't. It's so difficult and traumatic for my family. And I don't even know how my brother, when I hear his voice – when he calls, he still sounds like the same brother, but I can't imagine what his mind has gone through.
LEMON: You say as a tourist – what was he doing there?
HEKMATI: So, he had never been to Iran. We were all born and raised here. I've gone twice in the past. And this was his first trip because my grandmother is elderly. It was hard for her to visit the U.S. And he was there for two weeks. He obtained a tourist visa, and was able to travel. And within the two-week trip – he was about to return home – which is when they captured him.
LEMON: Montel, you were in D.C. supporting these families today. Why is this so important to you? And we've spoken about this before – why is it so important to you?
MONTEL WILLIAMS: Well, you said, Don – you know, as a tourist. He was there, and he's in prison right now because he wore our uniform. He was one of the people that was out here protecting what we call our freedom; our Constitution.
You know, this family is the perfect American dream. Here are immigrants who came to America, and they were so proud of the fact that they had an opportunity for their children – and they applauded their son when he enlisted in the Marine Corps, and decided to serve for our country.
Now, the reason why he's being held right now because he supposedly – the charge is he did collaboration – cooperating with the enemy. Well, he was a Marine, and that's why he's in prison. So, that's the reason why I'm involved in this, Don, because – number one, we leave no Marine behind. But we also have to understand that – you know, we have people right now that want to make sure we go to war as quickly as we can again, and those same Marines are going to question – if I get in trouble later, are you going to come and protect me?
And I've got to say this real quick: this family is doing this all on their own, Don. They're not getting any – you know, cooperation, and they're not really getting any money or support. So, you know, please, if you can let me just say this: I want people out there who are listening right now, go up on – you know, giveforward.com/freeamir. You can follow me on – you know, @Montel_Williams, and put up the hash tag 'FreeAmirNow.' Thank you. Please. Thank you.
LEMON: The website is up right now-
WILLIAMS: And thank you-
LEMON: And I have to ask you – you're quite welcome, of course – Ramy, are you worried that this isn't getting the attention it needs because of the larger ongoing nuclear relations with Iran? Should this be part of that deal?
KURDI: You know, we commend the U.S. and Iran for having a nuclear deal. Amir is not part of any deal. He's a human being. You can't deal a human being – especially an innocent one. He's committed no crime. But our plea is for diplomatic release – not any conditions. Amir himself wanted an unconditional release. So, that's really our push. We want to create a humanitarian gesture. There are multiple outlets for Iran to help free Amir. We hope that they comply with them.
