Three Americans Have Been Imprisoned for Nine Months Without Seeing Their Lawyer, Families
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN) held a press conference urging Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to release three American hikers who have been detained since last July after they allegedly crossed an unmarked border into Iran from Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
“As Mother’s Day approaches, we are reminded of the anguish the families of Josh, Shane and Sara are suffering,” Senator Casey said. “These three young people have been detained in Iran for more than nine months and it is difficult to escape the conclusion that they continue to be held because they are Americans and not for any legal reason. I urge the Iranian authorities not to deny Josh, Sarah, and Shane their freedom in order to express their discontent with the United States government.”
Senator Boxer said, “These three young hikers have been isolated and imprisoned for nine months. We call on the Iranian government and President Ahmadinejad to immediately release Sarah, Josh and Shane on humanitarian grounds and allow them to come home to their families and friends who love them so much.”
Senator Specter said, “We are asking for just a spark of humanitarianism from the government of Iran in releasing these three young people. Iran’s efforts to couple their navigational error with major international political issues is egregious. Without question, Iran should release Josh, Sarah and Shane immediately.”
“After nine months of detention, releasing these three young Americans is not a political issue or a security issue -- it is a humanitarian issue,” Senator Klobuchar said. “As a mother, I can only imagine the anguish Cindy Hickey is going through, waiting for Shane to return home. I strongly urge the Iranian government to allow Shane, Sarah, and Josh to be reunited with their families.”
Senator Franken said, “I’ve been working closely with Shane Bauer’s mother Cindy Hickey, who lives in Pine City, Minnesota. She’s a wonderful person, as are the families of Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal. They deserve to have their kids home for Mother's Day. It’s been far too long, and we want to bring the world’s attention to this case while President Ahmedinejad is in the U.S. for the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.”
Since their detainment, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal have been allowed only one phone call home on March 9 and have had access to a few letters sent by friends and relatives. Otherwise, the hikers have had little contact with the outside world and are grappling with various medical ailments. Iran has not yet granted visas requested by the detainees’ families and officials there claim the hikers will be put on trial, although they have not been formally charged nor given access to their lawyer.
President Ahmadinejad is visiting the United Nations this week for a conference regarding the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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