U.S. Calls On Iran To Release Three Americans On Detention Anniversary


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July 30, 2010 11:10 p.m. EST

Topics: politics, espionage and intelligence, diplomacy, international relations, United States
Tejinder Singh - AHN News Correspondent

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on Iran to release three hikers on the anniversary of their detention.

The three Americans - 31-year-old Sara Shourd - and Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 27, were arrested by Iranian authorities on July 31 of last year for allegedly crossing into Iran while hiking along the rugged border between Iran and the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

The State Department spokesman PJ Crowley called “their release by the Iranian government is long overdue,” citing from the Clinton statement.

"Their continued detention is unjustifiable. Iran has long espoused to the world its commitment to justice, security and peace for all. We urge Iran to take action on the three hikers detained for a year in Evin prison without charge to match these stated commitments. We call on Iran to do the right thing and allow these three Americans to return home to their families," Crowley added from the statement.

Amnesty International-USA, in its statement on the anniversary, noted that there seems to be not substantial grounds to prosecute the three Americans, and that they may be held solely because of their nationality.

"One year on from their arrest it appears clear that the Iranian authorities do not have substantial grounds to prosecute these three individuals, and we fear that they may be held on account of their nationality," said Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme. 



"If so, they should be released immediately and allowed to leave Iran." 



"If they are not to be freed, they must be charged with recognizably criminal offences and be tried according to international standards for a fair trial." 



Over the last year, Iranian officials have alleged that the three planned to carry out "acts of espionage" in Iran. Their families and the U.S. government deny this and the three have not been formally charged.


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