If you care about solidarity activism, independent reporting and the ability of progressive journalists to work on the frontlines of world events, I encourage you to make a simple phone call to the Iranian Interests Section in Washington D.C. on behalf of the two American hikers who are still being held in a 10' x 14' cell in Iran.
Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been locked away for almost 2 years. Recently, after repeatedly denying them visits with their lawyer and failing to produce them in court at the last hearing, Iran announced that it will resume their espionage trial on July 31. In reality, Shane and Josh were merely vacationing, and went for a beautiful hike along a river valley. Shane and his fiancé Sarah Shourd had been living in Damascus, Syria. Shane was studying and writing. Sarah was teaching English to Syrian students, and Iraqi and Palestinian refugees. Their friends Josh and Shon Meckfessel were visiting. Sarah had time off from teaching, so the four traveled together to Northern Iraq/Kurdistan, a semi-autonomous region where tourism flourishes, and which the Kurds, with the help of a U.S. Political Relations firm, a former U.S. Ambassador, and Fox News, had touted as safe. Everyone they met told them to hike to the waterfall. The problem was, they continued up the same trail, having no idea how close they were to the completely unmarked border with Iran. Somewhere along that border, and it is unclear on which side of it, Shane, Josh, and Sarah were arrested -- or more accurately abducted -- by an Iranian patrol. (Their other friend, Shon Meckfessel, was sick, and had stayed at the hotel.) Sarah was released after 14 months. Now, the other two face trial on espionage charges.
Shane Bauer has reported from Iraq, Ethiopia and Syria. He has written acclaimed articles, highly questioning of U.S. foreign policy for the Nation magazine where I am a contributing editor. Recently, Shane won high praise for his journalism from the inimitable Robert Fisk. (See "Is Shane Bauer Really an Enemy of Iran," U.K. Independent, May 6, 2011.) Josh is an avid environmentalist and teacher. Though I have never met Shane or Josh, we have close friends and extensive community in common.
The espionage charges against Shane and Josh are absurd on their face, and Iran knows it. As Sarah's chief interrogator informed her two months into her detention, Iran knew they were innocent but their case had become political. Two years later, Shane and Josh are still being held as political pawns, caught between two nations who refuse to talk to each other directly. If the Iranian political class has read any of Shane's, Josh's, or Sarah's works, which are widely available on the internet (see FreeOurFriends.eu/), it would be evident to them that the hikers are the exact opposite of U.S. spies.
But the Iranians have not acted on this reality as a result of their own inner turmoil and tension between political factions. Meanwhile, their continued detention of these two young men, in isolation, in a cramped cell, and without affording them even the process they are due under Iranian law, further corrodes their image around the world.
The competing Iranian power brokers need to be reminded collectively that their continued incarceration of the hikers is a stain on Iran's honor. This is the purpose of the phone blitz leading up to Shane and Josh's trial on July 31. Please make a simple phone call between July 25 and July 29, and politely but clearly let the Iranian Interests Section in Washington D.C. know that your eyes, and the eyes of the world, are on them.
Here are the details:
Week of Action Call Everyday For Their Release!
Starting Monday July 25th until Friday July 29th
Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington D.C.
(202) 965-4990
For more information: www.twoyearsistoomuch.wordpress.com
Considering the many comments here that question if they were only naieve hikers, one can hardly blame Iran for also questioning why these "hikers" were where they were. Iran has an absolute duty to it's people to protect them from the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
How does one prove one is not a spy? Difficult. The US has used all kinds of "believable" people as spies.
Still, 2 years confinement is long for a crime of naievity.
Then I think of Bradley Manning, not even a spy, yet look at how he is treated by America?
You say: “The problem was, they continued up the same trail, having no idea how close they were to the completely unmarked border with Iran.”
They displayed either breathtaking navigational incompetence or staggering arrogance in hiking that part of the world. In a time of GPS there’s no excuse for getting themselves in to that predicament.
And yes I’m aware of the rumours they may have been captured just on the Iraqi side.
They knew what part of the world they were in and I have to assume they were aware what the Iranian government is like right now. And surely they knew Iranian forces would view lost Americans the way a bear does a bee hive? They’ve allowed themselves to become political pawns and placed the American government in a difficult position.
Sometimes I think some people deliberately get themselves into these types of situations so they can secure a scoop. I’m certain once they’re released and home safe, they’ll be all over the TV using notoriety of the incident to leap the journalistic career ladder.
order to support their ideologies.
In fact, I know that you do.
What facts do you think I've "deliberately" ignored?
And how is it you "know" any of this with such certainty?
I ask because your terminology "sometimes I think" is at odds with certainty.
Let me try.
I believe people such as you avoid facts by shoehorning their own ideology into staggeringly assumptive responses.
It’s also easier than having to actually generate a genuine rebuttal. Isn’t it?
We have 12 million people that have intentionally hiked into our country, flagrantly violating our immigration and customs laws, falsified Federal identification papers, evaded taxes, and sending tax free money to a foriegn country and retaining free Medicaid sevices as undocumented gets chalked up as indegent.
Our response, sanctuary cities where local police cannot inform ICE if the people commit felonies.
Hardly comparing apples to apples.
Another reason is because I could not imagine such hubris and recklessness as to simply wander across a border into another country knowing the tumultuous and volatile nature of the U.S. relations with that nation. If they were unsure where the Iranian border began, then they should have taken a guide for assistance.
Lastly, as you mentioned in the article, I am certain politics has played a large role in this issue. Nonetheless, given our country's illegal immigrant detainment policies, and our policies towards "enemy combatants", I would venture to say that the U.S. response would have been quite similar to that of Iran. I doubt the U.S. would simply release a group of Afghani or North Korean nationals who claimed to have "accidentally" wandered across the US/Canadian border.
I especially appreciate that you included the Facts of their capture.
I feel so terribly sad for Shane and Josh's mothers.
Hopefully international pressure will secure their release.
"Hey guys, wanna go hiking along the Kurdish/Iranian border?"
"No thanks".....
I think norby413's post about says it for me.