Free Republic

Since his arrest last July -- he was accused of helping to plan the post-election uprisings -- Kian's family and friends have made countless appeals for clemency to the Iranian government, written letters to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pleading his innocence, and signed dozens of petitions. All to no avail. I've come now to realize that the regime probably thinks we're obtuse. Indeed, they know better than anyone that Kian is an innocent man. As the expression goes in Persian, "da'va sar-e een neest," i.e. that's not what this fight is about.

Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the now freed American hikers who were held in an Iranian prison after being convicted for espionage, appeared before cameras and reporters in New York on Sunday and gave prepared statements about their detentions in Iran. Bauer, a freelance journalist, along with Sarah Shourd, a teacher and women’s rights activist, and Fattal, an environmentalist, were arrested July 31, 2009 while hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan. Shourd was released last year. Bauer's and Fattal's remarks were critical of American foreign policy towards Iran as well as the Iranian government's treatment of it's own people. "The only explanation...

NEW YORK – An American woman who was held in Iran for more than 13 months and accused of espionage said Sunday she and two men detained with her never spied or committed any crime, calling their arrest "a huge misunderstanding." Discussing her experience at the most length since her release Tuesday, Sarah Shourd underscored her gratitude at being released but said she felt only "one-third free" because her fiance, Shane Bauer, and their friend Josh Fattal remain in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison.

Sarah Shourd is praising the Iranian leadership for her treatment.

Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Iran's release this week of American hiker Sarah Shourd was a unilateral gesture made without any promise of a quid pro quo, but that doesn't mean Iranian officials wouldn't appreciate a similar act from the United States, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told state-run television Friday. "We have no expectations," he told IRINN TV. "But naturally, morally, the expectation would be that the U.S. government would take a step to release a number of Iranians that they took from other countries." Ahmadinejad said the United States is holding a number of Iranians. "The expectation is that you...

And I have a few questions: * Who put up the $500,000 bail money to get Shourd out of Iran? Was it George Soros or one of his shell companies or organizations? * How long until Shourd starts spouting her anti-American, anti-Israel, pan-Islamic garbage in books, on Oprah and other TV interviews, etc? 3-2-1 . . . Instead of the gushing over this undeserving woman, let’s hear some answers to these questions. Let’s just even hear the questions being asked. But no mainstream media news outlet–including Prince AlWaleed’s FOX News–is bothering to ask them. Too busy drooling for no reason...

It is hard to know where to begin with Iran these days. Many commentators are telling us that there is considerable “infighting” within the regime, which is certainly true. But so far I have not seen anyone point out that these conflicts are not merely political. We are witnessing, I believe, a struggle for survival, both within the regime and between the regime and the opposition. All those explosions — big explosions — at the natural gas pipelines running from Iran to Turkey, to Russia, and to Afghanistan cannot possibly be accidents. The latest took place last night (I haven’t...

> Shane Bauer > Mr Bauer has said he is opposed to "the US hegemonic policies in the Middle East". > Sarah Shourd > In one article she recounted a meal as a guest of Iraqi refugees in Yemen, writing: "Everyday I feel ashamed at what my country has done to their country." > Josh Fattal > He travelled to Damascus in the summer of 2009 for a brief reunion with Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd. >

Here is an example of sleight of hand on an international scale in a matter of hours. The Good News (Misdirection)Thursday Iran announced it will free Sarah Shourd today. Sarah was one of the three American hikers arrested when they accidently strayed in to Iran July 2009. They were accused of being spies. The official story states “It is traditional in Iran to release prisoners as a gesture of clemency to mark the close of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ends this week.” This is wonderful news for Shourd’s family and the America, but we must not forget...

Three weeks after the failed mission to free her son Josh from an Iranian prison, Laura Fattal, of Elkins Park, is relentlessly on message, plotting new strategies and addressing criticisms that he put himself in harm's way. "Iran says the investigation is ongoing," she said in her first detailed interview since her 48 hours in Tehran. "If it is, please conclude it. Let our kids speak with their lawyer and go to trial. They will more than defend themselves." Josh Fattal, 28, and his friends Shane Bauer, 27, and Sarah Shourd, 31, were arrested 10 months ago for entering Iran...

The United States remains deeply concerned by the case of three American hikers, Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal, and Sarah Shourd, who have been detained in Iran without charge or access to legal representation since July 2009. While we welcome the decision by the Iranian authorities to allow Shane, Sarah and Josh to receive another Swiss consular visit at long last, we were deeply alarmed to learn from the families today of their physical and emotional state of health. We fear their well-being will suffer even more unless their case is resolved without delay. We strongly believe these urgent developments are...

Massoud Shafiee, attorney to three Americans who entered Iran by mistake five months ago and were subsequently arrested and imprisoned, told International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that he is trying to meet with his clients. Though since the families of Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd have appointed him as their lawyer, he has not been able to meet with his clients, Shafiee told International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: “After I was appointed as their lawyer, I started following up on the case. I prepared the forms my clients would have to sign in order...

SHANE BAUER: The fluent Arabic speaker was based in Damascus, where he lived with Sarah Shourd... ...SARAH SHOURD: "Everyday I feel ashamed at what my country has done to [Iraq]". JOSH FATTAL: An environmentalist and teacher, he was recently employed by a non-profit organisation that researches sustainable lifestyles. He travelled to Damascus in the summer to meet Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd for a hiking holiday. He reportedly posted an entry on his Facebook page on 17 July, saying that he was in the Middle East and planning a trip to Kurdistan.

Three American hikers who have been detained in Iran after crossing into the country from Iraq have been charged with espionage, according to reports by Iran's State News Agency. Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, have been detained in Iran since July 31. Their families say they entered the Islamic Republic accidentally while hiking in a scenic area of northern Iraq. The families, who have had no contact with the detainees, released videos in October that showed them dancing and singing before they were captured by Iranian authorities.

Longtime readers know my point of view on this: whether you are American or not, a “journalist” or not, if you go to Iran or North Korea, you knew the likely consequences, you assumed the risk, and I couldn’t care less about you. I care far more about those held in these totalitarian states against their will, not dumb, left-wing Americans who went there willingly. We have enough looming and present foreign and domestic policy problems to worry about. We don’t need to add people like Laura Ling and Roxana Saberi . . . and now, three “hikers” who are...

<p>Two of three hikers being detained in Iran are Bay Area residents and freelance journalists.</p> <p>Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd, both UC Berkeley graduates, worked as freelance journalists affiliated with New American Media in downtown San Francisco, according to Sandy Close, executive director.</p>