Amir Mizra Hekmati, an Iranian-American working for New York-based Kuma Reality Games, has been sentenced to death after allegedly confessing to spying and creating games specifically to sway public opinions concerning U.S. policies.
Hekmati, a former U.S. marine, was detained during a trip to visit family in August. The local newspaper Tehran Times published an excerpt of his purported confession, in which he admitted to helping create games designed to "manipulate public opinion in the Middle East" under the CIA's direction and payroll.
"[Kuma] was receiving money from the CIA to (produce) and design and distribute for free special movies and games with the aim of manipulating public opinion in the Middle east," Hekmati allegedly said. "The goal of the company in question was to convince the people of Iran and the people of the entire world that whatever the U.S. does in other countries is a good measure."
Kuma has produced, among other varied titles, a free episodic FPS series set in the Middle East named Kuma/War that puts players in scenarios in which they kill Islamist figures like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Osama bin Laden. One episode, "Assault on Iran," depicts a scenario in which the U.S. responds to the country's nuclear weapons program by sending players to infiltrate an Iranian nuclear facility, "secure evidence of illegal uranium enrichment," rescue an inside man, and destroy the facility.
Hekmati also appeared on Iranian state television in December and claimed to have been sent to Iran by the CIA. He said he was sent to infiltrate Iran's intelligence ministry by providing them information, gain their trust, and report his findings to the CIA.
The Islamic Revolutionary Court reportedly found Hekmati "Corrupt on Earth and Mohareb (waging war on God)." The New York Times says the ruling carries the death sentence.
"Allegations that Mr. Hekmati either worked for, or was sent to Iran by the CIA are false," said Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council. "The Iranian regime has a history of falsely accusing people of being spies, of eliciting forced confessions, and holding innocent Americans for political reasons."
The White House is demanding Hekmati's release, and has called for the Iranian government to grant him access to legal representation via diplomats in the Swiss Embassy, which represents the U.S.'s interests in Iran.
Source: Gamasutra
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