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His attorney, Matthew David Kohn, said he's been treated well in custody. He also believes prosecutors "meticulously" built their case against an innocent man. He came to Los Angeles for medical treatment from his brother's cardiologist.
Arresting Iranians for alleged embargo violations is rare. It shows how far Washington's willing to go to antagonize Iran, hoping perhaps for retaliation it can use as pretext to incite conflict.
Iranian scientists, especially nuclear ones, are central figures in America's destabilization plans. Former Sharif University vice chancellor Fredun Hojabri, now living in America, said longstanding US/Iranian friction causes problems for them.
He cited a 2006 incident involving over 50 Iranian researchers, engineers and executives. En route to a Santa Clara, CA disaster management forum, they were detained and deported because their visas were revoked. A Sharif University alumni group organized the event.
America not only plays hardball, it plays dirty. Innocent people suffer, especially Muslims falsely accused of terrorism, terrorist related charges, or other bogus ones like what Atoradi faces. Hopefully he'll weather the storm, be free and allowed to go home.
A Final Comment
In June 2006, Iranian American Seyed Mousavi's ordeal began when FBI and IRS agents raided his home and confronted him and his family at gunpoint. Though not imprisoned, he was hounded for months.
In August 2007, things came to a head. After early morning prayers, he was arrested outside his mosque and bogusly charged with six felony counts under the catch-all International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
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