Three US hikers still held - set to be tried

**Tango** · 14-12-2009, 16:03

An update to the American hikers story:

Three U.S. citizens detained in Iran and charged with espionage will stand trial, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday, in a case that could further strain relations between Tehran and Washington.

The three were held after they strayed into Iran from northern Iraq at the end of the July. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said Washington strongly believed there was no evidence to support any charges against them.

"They have entered Iran with suspicious aims. The judiciary will try them," Mottaki told a news conference, adding that 'relevant sentences' would be issued. He did not elaborate.

Last month, Iran's judiciary announced espionage charges against the three -- Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27. Their families said there were hiking and had strayed across the border accidentally.

This seems a bit strange, in my opinion, Americans hiking on the Iran/Iraq border? At the very least that displays an almost terminal stupidity. According to the same article, under Sharia law, a 'relevant' punishment for espionage charges is death, however I imagine the execution of three U.S. citizens (or the attempt to), might kick off a whole can of worms.

Any other opinions?

**leveller** · 14-12-2009, 16:07

Havenâ€™t the Iranians got a Nuclear scientist missing at the moment, which they accuse the yanks of abducting?

Bit of tit for tat maybe?

**Tango** · 14-12-2009, 16:15

Originally Posted by leveller

Havenâ€™t the Iranians got a Nuclear scientist missing at the moment, which they accuse the yanks of abducting?

Bit of tit for tat maybe?

Possibly, but a) the Americans don't (read: probably do, but haven't made it public) have this scientist in custody. and b) They're not threatening to execute him for espionage (if they did have him, which they don't (probably))

**Beans_Boots_n_Brows** · 14-12-2009, 16:53

Why the hell would you go hiking in 2 unfriendly countries. Thats just asking to be nabbed, stupid twats

**The_IRON** · 14-12-2009, 17:01

I will be the first to admit that my Map Reading skills arent the best and use my trusty Magellan or Tom Tom when moving around. How the hell can you be so stupid to accidently venture into two countries border that openly capture and kill Westerners.

**leveller** · 14-12-2009, 17:04

Originally Posted by The_IRON

I will be the first to admit that my Map Reading skills arent the best and use my trusty Magellan or Tom Tom when moving around. How the hell can you be so stupid to accidently venture into two countries border that openly capture and kill Westerners.

There American!

**The_IRON** · 14-12-2009, 17:05

Originally Posted by leveller

Originally Posted by The_IRON

I will be the first to admit that my Map Reading skills arent the best and use my trusty Magellan or Tom Tom when moving around. How the hell can you be so stupid to accidently venture into two countries border that openly capture and kill Westerners.

There American!

Point taken

**Miner** · 14-12-2009, 17:08

Originally Posted by The_IRON

Originally Posted by leveller

Originally Posted by The_IRON

I will be the first to admit that my Map Reading skills arent the best and use my trusty Magellan or Tom Tom when moving around. How the hell can you be so stupid to accidently venture into two countries border that openly capture and kill Westerners.

There American!

Point taken

And apparently their work colleagues at the CIA are missing them terribly.

**Proper_Gander** · 14-12-2009, 17:15

i dunno, Iran looks quite nice to me:

Welcome to Iran, the Land of Civilized and Friendly People!

:D

**Ruckerwocman** · 14-12-2009, 17:41

Rick Steeves, the American travel writer, is pushing Iran as the new destination to go for American tourists. Seems kind of risky to me. The last tour group of 53 tourists we sent enjoyed 444 days of the Mad Mullah's hospitality.

But hey ho, at least it got the Peanut Fahmer out of the White House. :P {I don't think the American tourists lost any iPods during their incarceration for the simple fact that they had not yet been invented, but there were a few Sony Walkman players that had several anxious moments.

}

The Mad Mullah Welcomes You to Iran

**eodmatt** · 14-12-2009, 17:48

Originally Posted by Proper_Gander

i dunno, Iran looks quite nice to me:

Welcome to Iran, the Land of Civilized and Friendly People!

:D

Iran is a stunningly beautiful country and the people of Iran are (for the most part) polite, cultured and very hospitable. Unfortunately the country is run by a bunch of religious maniacs who control the police, military and the media. For all that Iran is the fourth largest oil producing country, its infrastructure, medical services and welfare structure are an absolute fiasco.

pp0470 · 03-08-2011, 10:30

Iran to 'rule soon on US spy suspects' - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

On the brightside, I bet their farsi has improved no end!

**ShDrMa** · 03-08-2011, 10:35

I'm not familiar with the story, but was it definitely the Iran/Iraq border?

pp0470 · 03-08-2011, 11:02

Originally Posted by ShDrMa

I'm not familiar with the story, but was it definitely the Iran/Iraq border?

The 3 US 'hikers' (FAC?

) were definately inside Iran - no passport control, no customs, no duty free - just 'lost' whilst out for a walk on the border of their country's arch enemy.

Their families have wished all in Iran a happy ramadam though.....