Jailed Hikers Will Be Released 'In A Couple Of Days' Says Iranian President
Posted on Sep 13, 2011 @ 07:00AM
The two American hikers who have been jailed in Iran since 2009 could be released to freedom within days, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were sentenced to eight years for espionage and illegal entry last month after they were seized while hiking in the Kurdish area of northern Iraq two years ago.
In an interview with NBC's Ann Curry on Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the imminent release "a humanitarian gesture."
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"They illegally crossed our borders, and they were arrested by the border guards, but we tried last year to free one of the three persons, and we are also trying to make arrangements for their freedom, for the freedom of the other two," explained the President.
"I think these two persons will be freed in a couple of days."
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Ahmadinejad went on to explain that they were being well treated despite their detainment, and were receiving "very good conditions here in prison ... it's like staying in a hotel."
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In return, Ahmadinejad has reportedly asked for the release of Iranians who are being held in U.S. prisons.
Fattal and Bauer will finally be set free after a $500,000 bail is paid for each of them, explained their attorney, Masoud Shafiee, and their families are trying to raise the money, reported CNN.com.
A third hiker, Sarah Shourd, who is now Bauer's fiancee, was released last year for medical reasons but her case remains open.
The trio was incarcerated after they accidentally strayed across an unmarked border into Iran, they were quickly arrested and accused of being spies, and of entering the country illegally.
The Tehran Prosecutor's office had said it had "compelling evidence" that the three were cooperating with U.S. intelligence agencies, Iran's state-run Press TV reported.
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The Daily Juice
Oh, I think I'll go hiking in Iran!... I don't think so! What idiots!
Posted Wed, 09/14/2011 - 4:09am
I hope the state department sends all of these idiots a bill for the man hours that have spent because these losers decided to go for a hike in a high risk part of the world.
Posted Tue, 09/13/2011 - 6:40pm
Here's what we need to do, send Seal Team six in oh his ass and take them themselves. As soon as they're out of the country drop on large nuke to take out all the people in Iran and Iraq. Job complete!
Posted Tue, 09/13/2011 - 2:19pm
He wants something from the US or he would not be doing this....he's afraid that there will be unrest like in other countries
Posted Tue, 09/13/2011 - 2:04pm
BS - they are no more spies than I am, this guy is a thug, pure and simple, were paying blackmail......
Posted Tue, 09/13/2011 - 2:03pm
Explain how you release someone on bail when they have already been tried and convicted? I'll tell you how. The US is paying to get it's spies back.
Posted Tue, 09/13/2011 - 1:19pm
If the US was paying, why would the families be trying to raise money? The bigger question is how many millions should we demand from Iran to release the Iranian detainees here??
Posted Tue, 09/13/2011 - 1:27pm