Wife of Retired FBI Agent Missing in Iran Pleads for Help 1,000 Days Later

By Allan Lengel

ticklethewire.com

WASHINGTON — The wife of retired FBI agent Robert Levinson marked the 1,000th day of her husband’s disappearance in Iran Thursday by talking about the anguish and pleading for help from the Iranian government to find out about his whereabouts.

“Today, Thursday, December 3rd, marks the 1,000th day since my husband, Robert “Bob” Levinson, went missing in Iran,” wife Christine Levinson wrote on the website set up to gather information on his whereabouts.

“To put 1,000 days in perspective – Bob disappeared less than a month after now-President Barack Obama first declared his candidacy, three and a half months before the iPhone was released and two weeks before 15 members of the British Navy were detained in Iran and subsequently freed. On a more personal level, 1,000 days ago our youngest son was 13; today he turns 16 years of age. It is not a happy birthday.‬‪” ‬

“Bob went missing on the Iranian island of Kish on March 9th, 2007. Kish Island is not even part of the Iranian mainland – it is a free trade zone that does not require a visa for entry. My husband expected to be on the island for just 24 hours – one day. But it has now been 1,000 days.”

“My family and I have spent almost three years seeking answers from the Iranian government, which I believe has the power to help us. We continue to ask for their assistance. We have no reason to believe Bob ever left Iran, and his passport has not shown up in any other country.”

The FBI issued a press release saying that it was continuing to seek information about Levinson’s whereabouts, and noting that he has seven children and two grand children.

“Although the FBI has note received any information from Iranian authorities to date about Mr. Levinsion, we are willing to cooperate fully with Iranian investigators in the our effort to find Mr. Levinson and bring him home safely.”

To read the wife’s entire statement click on “Read More”.

Today, Thursday, December 3rd, marks the 1,000th day since my husband, Robert “Bob” Levinson, went missing in Iran. To put 1,000 days in perspective – Bob disappeared less than a month after now-President Barack Obama first declared his candidacy, three and a half months before the iPhone was released and two weeks before 15 members of the British Navy were detained in Iran and subsequently freed. On a more personal level, 1,000 days ago our youngest son was 13; today he turns 16 years of age. It is not a happy birthday.‬‪ ‬

Bob went missing on the Iranian island of Kish on March 9th, 2007. Kish Island is not even part of the Iranian mainland – it is a free trade zone that does not require a visa for entry. My husband expected to be on the island for just 24 hours – one day. But it has now been 1,000 days.

My family and I have spent almost three years seeking answers from the Iranian government, which I believe has the power to help us. We continue to ask for their assistance. We have no reason to believe Bob ever left Iran, and his passport has not shown up in any other country.

My family and I have treated the Iranian government with the utmost respect and were very thankful to meet its representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Khazaee, this past summer to discuss Bob’s case. We also provided the Ambassador with information he graciously requested about Bob’s trip in order to aid the investigation by Iranian officials. This meeting and request for information was the first time we had meaningful discussions with the government of Iran since my son and I traveled to that country two years ago in search of Bob. At that time Iranian officials promised us a report on the investigation, but we are still waiting.

We also respectfully ask for clarification of an article by Iranian PressTV, published a few weeks after Bob’s disappearance, stating that “the truth of the matter is he has been in the hands of Iranian security forces since the early hours of March 9” [2007] and that we could “see him freed in a matter of days.” Again, it is now 1,000 days. We love Bob and miss him so much.

A representative of the Iranian government recently stated “undoubtedly, it is as important for Iran to know about his fate and whereabouts as it is for his family and the United States government.” We profoundly hope this means the possibility of intervention by the Supreme Leader or President Ahmadinejad on our behalf. I am very grateful that Iranian officials are continuing to try and find Bob so he may return home to me and our children.

I am a stay-at-home mother of seven children who wants to find her husband of 35 years and bring him home. My family and I have no interest in any other issue concerning Iran. We are pleading for a humanitarian gesture from those who can help us.

The past 1,000 days have been a nightmare from which my children and I struggle daily to wake. Bob has missed his own birthday celebrations with us three times. He is 61 now, and we do not even know if he is in good health.

In all, Bob has missed three graduations, 28 birthdays, two promotions, one birth of a grandchild, three Thanksgivings, two Christmases, three wedding anniversaries and two grandchildren’s first steps. His youngest daughter has graduated high school and is now in her second year of college. The five-month-old grandson Bob last held in February 2007 is now attending pre-school. Our son who marks his birthday today has grown more than a foot taller since he last saw his father and is now almost Bob’s height at 6’4”.

In two weeks it will be our granddaughter’s first birthday. She has never met her grandfather. Our family will come together once again – without Bob. The love and joy this child has brought into our lives will be celebrated by the entire family – except Bob. We can only hope and pray that his place at the head of our family, which has remained empty for 1,000 days, will finally find its missing occupant – a wonderful, loving, husband and father whose family desperately needs him – in the days to come.