Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27 were vacationing in the mountains of northern Iraq when they reportedly crossed over into Iran by accident.
All three Americans were graduates of UC Berkeley. Two of the young hiking enthusiasts were living in Syria at the time of their abduction, the third was visiting. Fattal is a resident of suburban Philadelphia.
Because the United States has no diplomatic ties with Iran a Swiss diplomat was used to visit the detained hikers—they have had no contact with their families.
The families of these hikers will release a youtube video this week that they believe proves the hikers were in fact vacationing, rather than spying, or attempting to create political unrest during the Iranian election as some reports claim they are being held for.
The Associated Press reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said last week that investigators are still questioning the three and that their fate rests with judicial authorities.
This quote suggests that formal charges could still be made against the Americans. Iranian President Ahmadinejad said last month that could he ask the judiciary to ''take a look at the case with maximum leniency.''
Innocent Americans locked up abroad by the Iranian government for three months—when will these innocent travelers be sent home? Public pressure and media coverage surrounding circumstances like these are sometimes the only leverage families have to get their loved ones back. Visit the Web site below to offer your support.
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