Julie and Naor, organisers of a Free the Hikers manifestation/protest today in solidarity with three American hikers - Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal - who have been detained illegally in Iran for one year. The Paris event at Place d' Iena was one of dozens around the world this weekend marking the one-year anniversary of the hikers' arrest and imprisonment.
Robert Chahid, a journalist for the Voice of America's Persian Service, interviews Dr. Ali M.S. Fatemi of the Institut Europeen des Hautes Etudes Internationale.
Lucie Kroening, a reporter for France 24, talks about the hikers' plight.
The three American hikers - all graduates of the University of California at Berkeley, are confined in Evin Prison in Tehran. Sarah Stroud is in solitary confinement, able to meet for only two brief periods per day with Shane and Josh, who share a cell.
The three have been allowed to telephone their families only once, on March 9th. They've been denied access to lawyers and no charges against them have been filed or presented in court. On May 20th, their mothers traveled to Iran to visit them, but were allowed to stay only two days.
To learn more about the hikers, sign the petition for their freedom or donate your time or funds, please go here and/or here.
Wow, I never knew. In my part of the world I have never seen this info.
Posted by: Mary H. | 02 August 2010 at 14:09
Wow, what a horrific nightmare. Thanks for passing on the info.
Posted by: Carla | 02 August 2010 at 04:21
These pictures make me really miss France. I love how involved they get in political things happening around the world. I was esp touched by their efforts for Free Tibet in 08 even if it meant the Olympians had to take a bus around the passionate capital. Thanks for bringing these issues into our awareness!
Posted by: Stephanie | 02 August 2010 at 04:20
Thank you Tara ..for sharing this important matter! Iposted it on my Fb page aaggain today.
Posted by: pam aries | 01 August 2010 at 22:06
Oh horrid stuff. Nightmarish. Off to read more and sign, thanks for sharing. xoxo
Posted by: Gillian | 01 August 2010 at 04:10
Tara,
Thanks for bringing this to the front of my thinking. I was aware, but not in my thoughts and prayers. Now they are held in the light of my prayers today and going forward until they are released.
Posted by: Marilyn | 01 August 2010 at 00:17