Free Navy Vet Michael White From Iran
Donation protected
In July of 2018, U.S. Navy Veteran Michael White travelled to Iran, as he had done several times with a lawful visa, to visit a woman with whom he had fallen in love. This was his third visit, and came not long after Michael finished a round of chemotherapy to treat cancer.
While Michael's first two visits were without incident, shortly before he was scheduled to leave Iran, a taxi he was riding in was pulled over by plain clothes Iranian police in the northern city of Mashhad. Michael was detained and interrogated (and tortured) for nearly two months before being transferred to Vakilabad prison, also in Mashhad, where he has been held largely incommunicado since.
In March 2019, we learned that Michael was assigned an Iranian lawyer who doesn’t speak English, quickly tried, convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for "posting on social media" and 2 years for "insulting the Supreme Leader." Because the U.S. Government does not have diplomatic representation in Iran, all of our information comes from third parties, notably the Swiss Government. We still have not had direct contact with Michael.
We need to ensure Michael has adequate legal representation so he can pursue an appeal of his conviction in Iran, but his family does not have the necessary funds to do so. This campaign will be used to cover Michael's legal fees and related expenses for his defense.
Please help an American veteran who has served his country honorably and has become an apparent pawn in foreign diplomatic battles. Help us bring Michael home.
This campaign is being organized by the official spokesman and U.S. legal representatives for the White family.
Please note that the U.S. Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 560, authorize transactions for payment to an Iranian lawyer for legal services necessary to the initiation and conduct of the legal proceedings involving Michael White described above.
While Michael's first two visits were without incident, shortly before he was scheduled to leave Iran, a taxi he was riding in was pulled over by plain clothes Iranian police in the northern city of Mashhad. Michael was detained and interrogated (and tortured) for nearly two months before being transferred to Vakilabad prison, also in Mashhad, where he has been held largely incommunicado since.
In March 2019, we learned that Michael was assigned an Iranian lawyer who doesn’t speak English, quickly tried, convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for "posting on social media" and 2 years for "insulting the Supreme Leader." Because the U.S. Government does not have diplomatic representation in Iran, all of our information comes from third parties, notably the Swiss Government. We still have not had direct contact with Michael.
We need to ensure Michael has adequate legal representation so he can pursue an appeal of his conviction in Iran, but his family does not have the necessary funds to do so. This campaign will be used to cover Michael's legal fees and related expenses for his defense.
Please help an American veteran who has served his country honorably and has become an apparent pawn in foreign diplomatic battles. Help us bring Michael home.
This campaign is being organized by the official spokesman and U.S. legal representatives for the White family.
Please note that the U.S. Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 560, authorize transactions for payment to an Iranian lawyer for legal services necessary to the initiation and conduct of the legal proceedings involving Michael White described above.
Organizer
Jon Franks
Organizer
Hamilton, IN
