Erwin David Rabhan[1] (born September 9, 1926)[2] is an American businessman from Savannah, Georgia.[3] He is a longtime friend of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and he served as the pilot for Carter's first campaign for governor of Georgia in 1970. Rabhan was imprisoned in Iran for nearly 11 years, from September 1979 to August 6, 1990. He was initially charged with breaking Iranian financial laws and then later charged with spying, though he was never officially charged. It was speculated that he was targeted due to his friendship with Carter.[4] Rabhan described his lengthy prison experience as a "conscious coma... I feel like a real Rip van Winkle."[5]
Erwin David Rabhan | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 9, 1926 |
| Education | University of Georgia (BSc) |
| Occupation | businessman |
Rabhan arrived back in the U.S. on September 14, 1990, flying into Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport. Former President Carter greeted him there upon his arrival.[3] Carter had advocated for his friend's release from imprisonment,[6] and referred to him as a "hostage" of Iran. He privately asked the U.S. State Department to declare him a hostage, but that was never done.[4]
Rabhan wrote about his experiences in the 2004 book Conscious Coma: Ten Years in an Iranian Prison.[7]
Early life and education
editRabhan was born to a prominent Iranian Jewish family in Savannah, Georgia,[8] where he grew up. In 1943, he graduated from Benedictine Military Academy in Savannah. In 1949, he graduated from University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Iran Frees U.S. Prisoner Amid Conciliation Signs". The New York Times. September 15, 1990.
- ^ a b History of Soybeans and Soyfoods in Africa (1857–2009). Soyinfo Center. 2009. pp. 595–596. ISBN 9781928914259.
- ^ a b "Georgian returns home after 11 years in Iranian prison". UPI. September 15, 1990.
- ^ a b "American Freed from Tehran Prison". The Washington Post. September 14, 1990.
- ^ "'I Feel Like A Real Rip Van Winkle' -- American Kept Hope 11 Years In Iranian Prison". Knight-Ridder. September 20, 1990.
- ^ "Carter Confirms Writing to Khomeini on Behalf of U.S. Hostages". Los Angeles Times. November 20, 1988.
- ^ Conscious Coma: Ten Years in an Iranian Prison. Dream Catcher Publishing Incorporated. 2004. ISBN 9780972049566.
- ^ Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: The Georgia Years, 1924–1974. Oxford University Press. 2010. pp. 165–167. ISBN 9780199781492.