The families of the three American hikers who have been detained in Iran since July are taking action to free their relatives.
Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal, all students ages 27 to 36, were arrested by Iranian border guards after they reportedly wandered across an unmarked border while touring a remote mountainous region of Iraqi Kurdistan.
The three hikers have now been held in custody for 48 days. Will their families’ latest efforts get the attention of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
In a letter to the Iranian president, the mothers of the three Americans urged Ahmadinejad to bring their children with him to New York when he attends the UN general assembly next week.
Get the backstory: Will Arrest of American Hikers Affect Iraq, Iran Tourism?
The letter, which was released publicly, pleads for Ahmadinejad’s compassion as a father.
“We understand that Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, compassion and forgiveness in the Muslim faith,” said the letter. “Nothing would delight us more than to embrace our children and to express to you, in person, our profound gratitude for the kindness of the Iranian people.”
The siblings of the hikers appeared on the Today show this morning, saying that very little information has been released about the condition of their relatives.
On August 10, White House National Security Adviser James Jones told NBC’s Meet the Press that the United States had sent strong messages to Iran urging the release of the hikers and others in their custody. More than a month later, the hikers are still being held.
Iran initially suspected the three hikers to be spies, and has said it will take time to investigate their unlawful entry. A leading Iranian lawmaker has suggested that the case may be linked to the disturbances in the wake of Iran’s disputed election in June.
Despite the stalemate, the families have remained hopeful and vigilant. They have launched a Web site, www.freethehikers.org, printed T-shirts, and started Facebook and Twitter campaigns to raise awareness of their situation. Siblings of Shane Bauer have even planned a benefit event in their hometown of Duluth, Minnesota.
By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.
Related Links: FreetheHikers.org, Boston Globe, rferl.org,
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