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Detained In Iran: American Tourists Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Joshua Fattal

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By bgpappa


Detained In Iran: Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Joshua Fattal

With the celebration of the American reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee being pardoned and released just starting, it is important to remember that Ling and Lee were not the only Americans detained across the world.  In the last few days three American tourists have been arrested by Iran for illegally entering the country while backpacking through the area.  Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Joshua Fattal were taken into custody on Friday, July 31, 2009 after traveling in the Kurdish region of Iraq.  All three were well seasoned travelers who had been spending a year traveling around the middle East.


Sarah Shroud: Detained In Iran
Sarah Shroud: Detained In Iran

They Need Support

Like the situation with Laura Ling and Euna Lee, Bauer, Shourd and Fattal are currently being detained in a rogue state that has no diplomatic ties with the United States. The facts of their detention are currently unclear but what is clear that these three world travelers are not spies for the United States. While crossing into Iran without permission most likely violates some Iranian rule, the Iranian government cannot be allowed to make it something bigger than it was and these three tourists should not be used as pawns in the political game of world power.


Detained In Iran: Josh Fattal
Detained In Iran: Josh Fattal

The Story - As Told By The 4th Hiker

On July 31, 2009, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal went missing along the Iran/ Iraq border.  The trio had been traveling throughout the middle east with a fourth hiker, Shon Meckfessel. The three are currently being held by the Iranian government for illegally entering the country.  Shon Meckfessel has written an article in The Nation telling their story.

According to Meckfessel, the four decided to travel from Syria to Kurdistan.  They arrived in Sulaimania on July 29 and stayed at the hotel Miwan.  They then decided to explore the mountainous terrain and visit a place called Ahmed Awa.  They did not realize that Ahmed Awa was near the border with Iran. 

Meckfessel got separated from his friends when they left for Ahmed Awa.  On July 31 he learned they had been detained by the Iranian border patrol. 


The Families Of Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fatta: Detained In Iran
The Families Of Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fatta: Detained In Iran

Update September 2, 2009

A little over a month has passed since three American tourists were detained in Iran after accidentally crossing over the border. Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal were detained after hiking in Northern Iraq. A fourth friend got separated from the group claims they had no intention of going to Iran.

In the last month, the families have not heard a word about the fate of their loved ones. They are asking for public support to help get them released. Iran now is making overtures with the United States to have bilateral talks about Iran's nuclear programs. Perhaps this will lead to their safe return.


The Families Have Sent A Letter To The President Of Iran Asking Him To Show Some Humanity
The Families Have Sent A Letter To The President Of Iran Asking Him To Show Some Humanity

Update September 17, 2009

The families of the missing hikers appeared on the Today Show this morning to raise awareness to this issue. The hikers have now been detained for 48 days.  They also stated that they have written a letter to the President of Iran asking him to show the goodness of the Iranian people by bringing the hikers with him when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly next week. NBC's Anne Curry will ask the Iranian President about the fate of the hikers when she interviews him later today.  The families have heard nothing about the detained hikers since they were taken at the end of July.

The families have also set up a facebook page and website where they have placed a petition. Please sign the petition.

The facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=119471126959

The Website Page is: http://www.freethehikers.org/


The Families Of The Three American Hikers Sought Leniency From The President of Iran and He May Give It
The Families Of The Three American Hikers Sought Leniency From The President of Iran and He May Give It

Update September 23, 2009

 President Ahmadinejad of Iran told the Associated Press that he will seek "maximum" leniency for the 3 US hikers detained in Iran during the summer.  He did not elaborate as to what that means.  He also stated that the three broke the law but he would do what he can to expedite the process.

This comes when Iran is making some overtures towards talks about their nuclear talks. The Iranian President is in New York for the UN talks.


The Families Are Selling These T-Shirts To Help Bring Awareness To This Issue.
The Families Are Selling These T-Shirts To Help Bring Awareness To This Issue.

Update September 28, 2009

Despite being requesting by the family to bring the missing hikers home when he arrived in New York for the UN meeting, the President of Iran left them behind.  On Larry King, President Ahmadinejad said that three had committed a crime but claimed he had little control over the case.  However, with renewed tensions over Iran's nuclear plans and Iran's testing of long range missles, it has become even more important to put focus on the issue of the missing hikers.

Some good news though is that Iran has contacted Swiss Officials to allow them to see the missing hikers.  This will be the first western contact with the trio since they were detained in July.

The family has set up a website and is trying to sell T-Shirts to bring awareness to this issue.  You can get the shirts either at :

http://laughingstockdesign.biz/listing.aspx?CID=32

or

http://freethehikers.org/?page_id=755


The Three American Hikers Detained In Iran
The Three American Hikers Detained In Iran

Update November 5, 2009

November 8, 2009 marks the 100th day of Detention for the three american hikers detained in Iran.  The families and friends are using the occassion to bring more light to the sitation as the media for the most part has ignored this tradegy.  Vigils are scheduled around the world in the following locations:

• Philadelphia, PA • Vancouver, Canada

• New York City, NY • Toronto, Canada

• Boston, MA • Shanghai, China

• Cottage Grove, OR • Changsha, China

• Los Angeles, CA • Bangalore, India

• Oakland, CA • Rajpur, India

• Minneapolis, MN • London, UK

• Pine City, MN • Mexico City, Mexico

• Burlington, VT • Cape Town, S. Africa

• Sarasota, FL • Hultsfred, Sweden

• Boulder, CO • Medellin, Colombia

 • Vietnam

Recent reports have stated that the Swedish Ambassador to Iran has met with the hikers and reported that they are in good health.  However, they have still not been allowed to call their families.  There are reports today claiming that the families have met with Secretary Clinton about the plight of the hikers.

If you can, please sign the petition to have the hikers released.


Iran Announced Today That The Hikers Will Be Charged With Spying
Iran Announced Today That The Hikers Will Be Charged With Spying

Update November 9, 2009

 Amid growing tensions between the United States and Iran over Iran's nuclear program, Iran announced today that the three American hikers detained since July will be charged with spying.  These allegations come only one day after vigils were held across the world for the hikers' safe return.

Secretary Clinton called for Iran to show compassion and release the hikers.  However, it appears that this issue will not end soon.


Update December 9, 2009

Four months ago the three American hikers were taken into custody by Iranian officials allegedly trespassing into Iranian soil.  In those four months they have not been allowed to contact their family.  They have only been allowed two visits by Swiss officials who report that they are in good health but their incarceration is taking its toll. 

The families are asking the Iranian President to make a humanitarian gesture and release the Americans.  Their voice hit the US Senate where Senator Al Franken spoke on behalf of the families on the Senate Floor.

If you haven't please sign the Petitions.

Comments

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tony0724 profile image

tony0724  says:
5 months ago

bgpappa I could not agree more that I hope the Iranian Government will hopefully turn these people over. However I do think they should have their IQs tested , they must not keep up with current events . Otherwise I would hope they would not have been so stupid as to play with fire and go hiking on the border of a state that dislikes us alot to put It mildly ! In any event I am glad Laura Ling and Euna Lee are coming home !

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
5 months ago

Tony,

Agreed that they should not have played with fire. But they were at the most trespassing, not an offense worth twelve years of hard labor. The main thing is to let the public know what is going on. I had a personal tie to Laura Ling and would find it hypocritical on my part if I didn't try to do something for people in the same position that I did not know.

Thanks for the comment.

Jim  says:
3 months ago

2 words .... Navy Seals

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
3 months ago

Not a bad idea.

Thanks for reading

Tommy  says:
2 months ago

These 3 liberal rabble rousers knew the dangers involved. Our government has other things to worry about. I hope the regime hangs them.

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
2 months ago

Are you ok with this because they are liberal? What if they were missionaries?

Thanks for reading.

killagb  says:
2 months ago

It should be noted that they started out in a country that has no diplomatic ties with the US, a so called rogue state itself, Syria. Also, it is not known as trespassing when you cross into another country illegally. This would be illegal immigration.

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
2 months ago

They were along the border and accidently went in. They had no intention to live there.

But thank you for the comment.

Michael  says:
2 weeks ago

I hope they are sent back safely, It's a shame how disgusting Iran is. They are only holding these three people because Iran is an enemy of the U.S and is looking for leverage over the U.S, It is clear that they were not doing anything wrong and only entered on accident, We all know this including Iran. It will be a fake/unfair trial that they go through and will be found guilty unless President Obama heavily opposes Iran and demands for their safe return home.

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
2 weeks ago

Agreed,

Thanks for the comment.

Michael  says:
2 weeks ago

A few more things.....1.Do you know what Iran will do to them if they make them go through a trial and find them guilty (Which they are obviously not but Iran is corrupt and will find them guilty) 2.It is a shame that this hasn't gotten more media coverage, that is why the president hasn't put any pressure on Ahmadinejad to release them back to America. It's a shame because Israel is willing to release 980 terrorists just to get back one solider Gilad schalit and the U.S hasn't done anything to get back three of it's citizens that were taken. Shows you the difference in morals in all countries, Israel is willing to do so much for one of it's people while Iran is willing to play with any of it's people's lives, and the U.S only cares about what the majority of it's people want. What is your opinion bgpappa?

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
2 weeks ago

I think the Obama administration has put pressure on Iran, not just very much. What I learend following the Ling/Lee drama was that you don't want the Administration putting a lot of media pressure on them because they will use the situation to their advantage. But Sec. Clinton is involved in the background as are the Swiss.

I agree that the US does not do enough in these situations. But I don't think going to the lenghts that Isreal does is necessary either. Different situations call for different reactions.

Michael  says:
2 weeks ago

I agree on the fact that media pressure can be used to Iran's advantage. I didn't mean going to the length that Israel is doing at the current moment to get Gilad back but I meant that the U.S should be doing all in it's power to get the three back just like Israel is doing to get Gilad back. (Not releasing prisoners that is because I am against releasing 980 terrorists for one person)

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
2 weeks ago

Understood. I think a lot is happening behind the scenes, which was the case in the Ling, Lee case. Just not intentionally on the front burner.

But, that doesn't mean the word doesn't have to get around to ensure that something is being done in the background. That is the point of the original post.

Thanks for the comment and spread the word.

carolina muscle profile image

carolina muscle  says:
10 days ago

I don't like the regime in Iran, but I wonder how we (the U.S) would treat three Iranians caught illegally wandering into our country. Would we take them at their word as to their intent?

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
10 days ago

Fair point, but at the very least we would give them a fair trial, food, medicine, tolerable living condition and access to lawyers, phones, letters, embassy visators.

Nobody is saying the three didn't do anything wrong. They, apparently, trespassed. But they were not spying or doing anything else. It is the fact that they won't get a fair trial or anything like it that makes it so extreme.

Thanks for the comment.

C.J. Wright  says:
10 days ago

Well written HUB, I agree with your points. However I do believe that we need to take a hard look at how these folks got there. Did they leave the US heading for Iraq? If so, why would the US allow its citizen's to travel there at this time. That region is no place for civilians at this time. Even still why would you go near the border of Iran, its unthinkable. I'm sure these folks will eventually be released, followed by a tell all book. Again, well written.

bgpappa profile image

bgpappa  says:
10 days ago

Thanks. From what I understand, they were in Northern Iraq, and were led to the border by a guide.

Thanks for the comment.

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