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.

The only explanation for our prolonged detention is the 32 years of mutual hostility between America and Iran. The irony is that Sarah, Josh and I oppose U.S. policies towards Iran which perpetuate this hostility. –Shane Bauer The media like to inject a narrative into the description of public figures. Rodney King was a "motorist," not a violent drug abuser. Louise Woodward was an "au-pair," not a selfish baby killer. Amanda Knox is an "exchange student," not a psychotic knife murderer. The modifier humanizes those whom the Old Time Media decide deserve sympathy. By contrast Lawrence Brewer's modifier was "white...

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...

<p>Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 29, were convicted last month of entering Iran illegally and spying for the United States, and each sentenced to eight years in prison.</p> <p>They have not yet been seen leaving Evin Prison, but their attorney, Masoud Shafiee, went into the facility earlier in the day with paperwork to show that the $500,000 bail had been paid for each of them.</p>

An Iranian court Tuesday set bail of $500,000 each for two American men arrested more than two years ago and convicted on spy-related charges, clearing the way for their release a year after a similar bail-for-freedom arrangement for the third member of the group, their defense attorney said.

American hikers accused of spying in Iran could be released tomorrow after two years in jail The two American hikers accused of spying in Iran could be released tomorrow after a two-year prison ordeal, their lawyer said today. Masoud Shafiei says he believes Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal could be freed after a hearing on Sunday, as the date coincides with the second anniversary of their arrest. The Muslim world also has a tradition of pardoning prisoners for the holy month of Ramadan, which starts early next week.

An Iranian newspaper reports that a delegation from Oman will visit Iran to pursue the release of two American men imprisoned for more than a year.

> 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. >

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...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - An American linguistics student traveling in northern Iraq didn't go on an ill-fated hiking trip because he had a cold—a twist of fate that prevented him from mistakenly wandering into Iran where his three friends were reportedly detained. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran was working Sunday to learn more about the Americans' fate through its contacts with the Iranian Foreign Ministry, spokeswoman Nadine Olivieri said. Switzerland represents U.S. interests in Iran. Shon Meckfessel sat out the hike because he had a cold, his grandmother, Irene Meckfessel, told The Associated Press from her home in Carmichael, Calif....

Three Americans who were arrested after crossing into Iran have been accused of being spies, according to a local report. Tehran-based television news channel al-Alam quoted an Iraqi police officer as saying the trio were “working with the CIA.” The Swiss Embassy in Tehran was working to learn more about the Americans' fate through its contacts with the Iranian Foreign Ministry, spokeswoman Nadine Olivieri said. Switzerland represents U.S. interests in Iran. Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here It also emerged that an American linguistics student traveling in northern Iraq didn't go on an ill-fated hiking trip because he...

<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>

IRAN'S state-owned Arabic-language al-Alam TV station has confirmed that three US citizens were arrested after crossing the border from Iraq. The report said the three Americans were detained on Friday after crossing into Iran's Kurdistan province. They were arrested after refusing to heed warnings from border guards.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department says it's aware of Iranian media reports that three American citizens have been detained in Iran. Spokesman Robert Wood says the U.S. has asked the Swiss, who represent American interests in Iran, to confirm the reports with Iranian authorities and arrange for diplomatic access to the three, if the reports are true. The Americans reportedly were detained Friday after crossing into Iran's Kurdistan province—when they failed to heed warnings from Iranian border guards.

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq (AP) - Iran state TV confirmed Saturday that it has detained three Americans who crossed the border from northern Iraq, saying they failed to heed warnings from Iranian guards. Kurdish officials from the self-ruled region in northern Iraq said the three—two men and a woman—were tourists who had mistakenly crossed into Iranian territory Friday while hiking in a mountainous area near the resort town of Ahmed Awaa. "The Iranians said they have arrested them because they entered their land without legal permission," said Qubad Talabani, the Kurdish regional government's envoy to Washington. Iran's state owned Arabic-language al-Alam TV...