The families of three Americans being held in Iran released video footage October 27 that they say proves the three were simply on vacation when they strayed across the border.
(Shon Meckfessel/AP/Youtube screengrab)Photos (1 of 1)
What’s behind Iran’s espionage charge against US hikers
Iran announced Monday that three American hikers – Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, and Josh Fattal – arrested July 31 amid post-election tensions had been charged with espionage.
By Scott Peterson | Staff writer 11.09.09
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – Iran has charged three Americans with espionage, after they strayed during a hiking trip in northern Iraq this past July, in a move likely to complicate US overtures toward Iran.
“The three are charged with espionage. Investigations continue into the three detained Americans in Iran,” Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said on Monday. Family members have made appeals for their release, shown snapshots of the three visiting tourist sites in the Middle East, and say they wandered into Iran by accident.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton renewed her call for the release of the three hikers from Berlin on Monday.
“We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever,” Clinton said. “And we would renew our request on behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them, so they can return home.”
According to Iranian law, the charges could result in the death penalty. But past precedent suggests that the decision by Iran’s hard-line judiciary could be a bid by some right-wing factions in Iran to block any chance of US-Iran reconciliation. It could also be used as a diplomatic card to gain concessions, or to exacerbate already tricky nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West.
Americans detained amid crisis in sensitive Kurdish area
The three detainees – Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, and Josh Fattal – all graduates of the University of California, Berkeley – were arrested while the Islamic Republic was mired in its greatest political crisis in nearly 30 years.
Weeks of bloody street clashes after a disputed presidential election had prompted ultraconservative leaders, security chiefs, and prosecutors to accuse the US, Britain and Israel of fomenting the unrest and trying to overthrow the government in a “velvet revolution.”
The prosecutor said on Monday, according to the official IRNA news agency, that an “opinion [on their case] will be given in the not distant future.”
The Kurdish area of northern Iran is especially sensitive, due to a slow-burn conflict with anti-Iranian PJAK guerrillas based in Iraq, which frequently target Iranian police and security forces. Iran and many outside analysts charge that those Kurdish fighters – who work alongside Turkish PKK guerrillas – have received American support in their fight against Iran. Washington denies the claim.
The espionage charge comes just days after Iran’s supreme religious leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei marked the 30th anniversary of the takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran by military students with a tough anti-US speech.
“The American government is a really arrogant power and the Iranian nation will not be deceived with its apparent reconciliatory behavior,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Roxana Saberi, also charged with espionage, was later freed
Iran is also holding academic Kian Tajbakhsh, a dual US-Iran citizen, who was arrested shortly after the violence began and charged along with 140 senior reformist figures and activists with national security offenses aimed at toppling the regime. He was sentenced to 12 years in jail last month for activity related to the post-election protests.
Earlier this year dual US-Iranian citizen Roxana Saberi was arrested in Tehran, charged with espionage, and sentenced to eight years in prison. The sentence was reversed on appeal, and she was released to her parents in May, after more than three months in prison.
Analysts at the time said her arrest was a deliberate attempt by hard-line faction “spoilers” to derail President Barack Obama’s attempts at dialogue with Tehran.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took the unusual step of intervening in Saberi’s case, writing to the judiciary to be sure she was granted all her rights.
The arrest of the hikers “could also facilitate things,” suggested one close observer in Tehran on Monday. “If Ahmadinejad intervenes with a presidential decree, as he did with [Saberi], at least he can pose as somebody who is in favor of softening tensions.”
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2. Leigh | 11.09.09
Uh-ha … and just who goes hiking on the iraq-iran border?
A day out was it?
get bored with yellowstone?
3. JOHN SCHEIN | 11.09.09
ANOTHER ACT OF DEFIANCE BY IRAN. WHEN WILL THE WORLD REALIZE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH THE NEW NAZI THREAT? ARE WE TO HAVE ANOTHER CHAMBERLAIN-HITLER
“PEACE AGREEMENT” ACCORD THAT WILL LEAD TO NOTHING?
HAVENT WE REALIZED THAT ALL IRAN IS DOING IS BUYING TIME TO GET THEIR NUCLEAR BOMBS READY ?
4. sophia | 11.09.09
Snide comments should be jettisoned by CSM, because they only showcase toxic commentators who are legion on the web. The particulars of the case are known to me and any person could have made the same mistake. What is worth discussing is how innocent civilians are caught up in the types of warfare we wage today.
The Iranian government is combating a major challenge to its legitimacy. Following the recent election, Achmadinejad is flexing his muscles against the religious gerontocracy that revolutionized the country. At stake is the future of Iran: will it evolve into a representative government of its own type and making, or will it suffer totalitarian rule by clerics who are hostage to a dictator.
In the midst of this crisis, world powers are pressuring Iran under threat of attack to give up its nuclear program.
Iranians invented chess. We know how they treat hostages and how long they can hold them. The hikers are hostages in the geopolitical wars. They are now chess pieces on the board. We need to take them into account.
5. Vladimir | 11.09.09
If they really went hiking over there, then they got to be descendants of
“The wise men of Gotham”:
Three wise men of Gotham
Went to sea in a bowl.
If the bowl had been stronger
My tale had been longer.
6. Bill Bokram | 11.09.09
Leigh…you and I have the same question. How stupid do you have to be to not know where you are hiking when so close to a country that will do this.
Let them stay in Iranian custody for a long time so they can think about what they have done. Who knows, maybe the idea of “celebrity” may play a part. If and when they are set free won’t they have fun telling all their friends about it.
7. Brian | 11.09.09
I agree with Leigh: of all the places for three educated American hikers to go - “Hey, let’s hike near a fuzzy, disputed, tense border with Iran during one of Iran’s most violent political crises in thirty years. If there’s a hostel to stay in, how dangerous could it be?”
Yes, you can do whatever you want in life, but reality imposes consequences. You graduated from Berkeley - you’re supposed to be able to weigh potential consequences and make decisions accordingly. Your detainment was a high probability that came true and now the United States government has to expend valuable political and diplomatic capital to get you out. You’ll get out, but only after Iran has extracted some benefit. It reminds me of the journalists who were shocked to be imprisoned in North Korea after they admittedly crossed the border.
8. Paul Wolf | 11.09.09
I also think it is a strange place to go hiking. I would like to know more about these people’s backgrounds - who were their employers, what were their backgrounds, etc. Too many news stories are presented as “us against them” and few people care about the real facts, but some do.
9. Samuel | 11.09.09
A lesson to all American Tourists; don’t have your imagination eludes you to thinking that being with american passport can get you out of trouble, even if your real intention was really hiking and tourism in the most dangerous area on this planet.
11. Maziar | 11.09.09
Another DIVERSION provided to the Islamist regime in Iran to escape its daily woes with anti-regime protestors. I guess NUKES is not enough to keep world opinion diverted!
12. jack | 11.09.09
What would Americans say or do if the case was reversed. What would we want US government do if it captured 3 iranians illegally entering US near very sensitive areas? Let them loose right away (because Iranian government claims they were lost as H. Clinton and their own family members suggest in this case)or keep them for a while to determine their real motive or reason for entry? If US chose to keep them, would we call it a political act or just taking a security precaution? You tell me.
13. Leigh | 11.09.09
“The particulars of the case are known to me and any person could have made the same mistake.”
A mistake is forgetting to pay your rent on time. An act of stupidity is approaching a grizzly bear with the intention of petting him. Since you are privvy to the case sophia, why don’t you explain how 3 US Citizens thought the iraq-iran border area would be a cool place to go for a hike? Did they not understand the danger, or did they think that being a foreigner gave them a get out of jail free card? Perhaps 30 years ago I could go with but in todays political climate this is a bit more than a simple mistake.
14. Leigh | 11.09.09
Lets just suppose for a moment that these were simply 3 vacationing, extreme hikers, out for adventure. Lets even assume they were nowhere near the iran border and never crossed it. I still have to wonder where they get the idea that it’s safe to go hiking in the kurdish area of iraq? Are these people so naive to believe they are immune from capture?
These are americans! Iraq has thousands of militant freedom fighters that like nothing better than to take american hostages in exchange for whatever they can ransom them for. Where on earth does personal responsability for stupid acts begin, and someone else’s need to put their lives on the line to free them end?
15. Don S | 11.09.09
As an American, I would have to wonder why the 3 would choose to go climbing and sight seeing in a war torn, highly toxic area that clearly doesnt like westerners. As college grads, they couldn’t clearly see it was a stupid place to be? I would have to say that there is nothing that sounds logical to any of this.
16. sophia | 11.09.09
Leigh,
This thread is obsessing on the fact that three Americans went hiking, not on the hostage situation. FYI, the two women who were recently released from North Korea knowingly entered that country for the purpose of helping escapees. They deliberately went with someone who they did not know well and they are applauded for courage, not foolhardiness. The three hikers in Iran were in an area the US deems safe and encourages for tourism. We are encouraging the economy of the “safe” region of the Kurds. Furthermore, they were given information by townspeople that highlighted the safety of the waterfall where many people had gone before the hikers. We do not even know if they actually crossed over into Iranian territory. We do know they were captured by Iranian border guards, who may have been “hunting” across their line. The two Americans who crossed into North Korea were captured by guards who crossed over into China to grab them.
Nevertheless, the emphasis on their “mistake” is misplaced and vicious. Don’t blame the victims. The issue is geopolitics and nuclear weapons. The question is what role will these civilian pawns play in the “great game” of diplomacy/war?
As Americans, we need to rally round the hostages of any totalist regime. It could happen to you, “superior” commentators, somewhere, somehow, so hold your fire.
17. Leigh | 11.09.09
Sophia
Thank you for expanding on the situation as you know it. I am read up on the korean situation and realise that what we are told is not always what the absolute truth is. These people are only victims if in fact they did not cross the border and were abducted on the iraqi side, otherwise they are either stupid or spies.
What you are suggesting is that we should all have the attitude that everyone other than our own people are always wrong. That no matter the reported circumstances of a particular set of events, that we, the american people should always wave the flag in support of our countrymen, and never question the circumstances as reported to us.
I am sorry but I just cannot get on board with that. That was the thinking of George W. Bush, and look at the mess that got us into.
18. Joe | 11.09.09
Sophia ,you are so naive, are you serious when you saying that the U.S. is encouraging tourism in the kurdish border and the Iraq Iran border? I like to see if you would send your son and daughter to have a vacation over there. There is this thing about you that if you are an american you never make mistakes, this is why we are in the mess we are today, I am a war veteran and believe me war is no fun
19. Brian | 11.09.09
Sophia,
It may seem this thread is obsessing on the hikers rather than the hostage situation. I can only speak for myself in saying that of course I want the hostage situation resolved peacefully and quickly. However, I personally am losing patience and sympathy for people making these “mistakes” that cost the U.S. political and diplomatic capital.
Yes, geopolitics and nuclear weapons are the big issues here, but countries like Iran and North Korea show the willingness to use anything - hikers and journalists - to further their causes. All the more reason to learn from what we have all seen in the media and avoid making the same “mistakes”. It took Bill Clinton flying into North Korea to bring those journalists home. I wonder what it will cost us to resolve this hostage situation? The last one took several years.
You are also right that nobody knows all the details in either story. However, staying say 20 miles away from these borders would have avoided both situations. Good intentions aside, reality is what it is - these are dangerous areas to be in. If the State Dept. was pushing tourism in the Iran/Iraq border region, shame on them too. I’m sure they aren’t anymore.
20. kc | 11.09.09
I think if you look at their ages, their diplomas and their backgrounds, the story of three innocent vacationers taken hostage is weak. They’re smart, politically involved adults who could not have been blind to the proximity of the border and the dangers of crossing it. I resent that they have put the U.S. in the position of having to defend them, and thus weakening our bargaining power in matters far more serious.
21. Cassie | 11.09.09
Sophia: “The three hikers in Iran were in an area the US deems safe and encourages for tourism.”
Um, really?
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_921.html
Posted June 15, 2009
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the dangers inherent in travel to Iraq and recommends against all but essential travel in country given the fluid security situation. Numerous insurgent groups remain active throughout Iraq. Turkish government forces have carried out operations against elements of the Kongra-Gel terrorist group (KGK, formerly Kurdistan Worker’s Party or PKK) located along Iraq’s northern border.
While the security environment has shown significant improvement over the past year, Iraq remains dangerous and unpredictable. In addition to terrorist and criminal attacks, sectarian violence occurs often. U.S. Government personnel require special permission and a security detail at all times when traveling outside of secure facilities and are prohibited from traveling to certain areas of Iraq depending on prevailing security conditions.”
What part of “this country is incredibly dangerous and unpredictable, don’t come here” didn’t they understand?
As for me, I am planning on going ballooning in Afghanistan next week - should be fun.
22. Christine | 11.09.09
Shane Bauer was editing a documentary on Darfur. He is a photojournalist with a background in political science, so it makes sense that he was studying Kurdistan and Syria. If you look into the backgrounds of these three, their blogs and writing and so forth - it is inconceivable that they were spies. They are political progressives who like to make human connections with people regardless of borders
http://www.shanebauer.net/photography/
http://www.shanebauer.net/site.php/current/
23. Kari | 11.09.09
To associate this case with the case of Roxana Saberi does the three hikers a huge disservice. Ms. Saberi was working in Iran without press credentials, as an Iranian citizen, something - contrary to what she would like the world to believe she did not know - is against the law. Any journalist that has reported from Iran will tell you the same thing.
Additionally, Ms. Saberi had been researching a book, asking questions of those in various involvements in the government. She was filming a movie underground, and while filming that movie, there were two situations with police where DVDs were traded for freedom. She had a plethora of documents in her home and one man was detained for giving her some of those documents, though our media in the West did not want to report that. Nor did they want to report that she had a brother in the military.
These three, however, did not consciously commit acts against the government they were residence of, believing they had amnesty because they held citizenship in another country.
24. dan strayer | 11.09.09
Whether tourism is encouraged or not, spies or not, naive or not, kidnapped or not, these three were pushing their luck and testing the boundaries,literally, and could not have been so stupid as to not know that. And it is true, some Americans think their passport will get them out of anything. It is not true.
25. George | 11.09.09
Personally, I’d like the three to take personal responsibility and leave the US Government out of it. Why should the US have to protect everyone from their own stupidity.
27. Dave in Maine | 11.09.09
Foolishness from Berkley left wingnuts. They are a part of a tricky chess game now.
28. Taminatl | 11.09.09
NEWSFLASH: There are also 5 Kuwaitis, a Quatari and an Egyptian being detained, they were caught fishing in territorial waters and will be detained for questioning,while a separate individual who is a dual passport holder (Iranian-US)was detained in a separate instance, 40 Saudi’s, an Emirati charged with rape, thousands of Pakistani’s and 203 Afghan’s. All within two months. People aren’t going to stop living because of conflict. People will still travel, break the law, and do what they would normally. There will ALWAYS be conflict and risk no matter what. Apparently, Iranian authorities will arrest individuals regardless of their nationality if they break not only territorial laws but any local laws. Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law no matter where you are in the world. Most people are aware of this fact. This clearly is not a target against American’s. Our media really urks me, but what urks me more is when people pass judgment based on half the whole story. It’s important not to rely solely on FOX, CNN and all other American media for your information.
29. Arthur Borges | 11.10.09
QUOTE
Isn’t this what we have SEALs for? State Dept needs to take care of our people.
QUOTE
If they are agents of the US Government, then YES; if they actually are private citizens in search of a ill-considered adrenalin surge, then NO.
Do not expect the USA to invade someplace because it arrested you for being a fool. If the consular services find out about your problem (not always obvious), they will wire your mother and help you find a lawyer. Not much else except maybe-maybe chocolate chip cookies and sympathy if they can get it past visitor screening.
30. HRB | 11.10.09
It is interesting that some people never learn the lessons of history. Clearly, these three were not even born when the “Hostage Crisis” of 1979 started. Not much has changed politically in Iran since then - and yes, the government still has a penchant for hostages. What about Lebanon in the 1980’s? The hostage taking there was also Iranian backed. It seems like these folks missed the class on contemporary middle east politics at UC Berkeley. Moral of the story - Iran has a great big no trespassing sign on the fence. Stay away unless you want to be caught, imprisoned, and paraded around. By the way, what is the latin for “let the traveler beware”.
31. Joe | 11.10.09
A hike in Northern Iraq? Wha? Wouldn’t it have been more interesting to go hiking in a National forest with strips of bacon all over you? This seems like a “you asked for it” scenario. Go looking for trouble and you will find it. I would seriously get my money back from THAT travel agent.
32. Jeremy | 11.12.09
The part of Kurdistan known as North Iraq is statistically far safer than the U.S. No American soldier has died there, no American has even been attacked there. If you had read anything about the region, you would know that the people there are distinguished by their immense hospitality and enthusiasm for Americans. Sophia is absolutely right, the rest of you simply don’t know what you are talking about. Kurdistan is singularly beautiful, indeed, I’ve hiked and been river rafting in North Kurdistan (East Turkey), and the mountains and panoramas evoke a sort of Lord of the Rings MiddleEarth other worldliness. Moreover, Kurdistan is bursting with an incredible diversity of ancient peoples and religions, there are people there who still speak Aramaic the language of the original bible, there are the Yezedis a people who believe that Satan was forgiven by God and became an angel who they now worship, the first female Rabbi was a Kurdish women who lived in North Iraq in the 1500’s, all in all, it is a surprising and wonderful place.
33. William | 11.18.09
Jeremy,
Are you kidding me? I can assure you that it is statistically far safer in the US (i.e. not being arrested by the Iranian government). I’m sure you’re right about the people and the geography but come on, safer? Just because a place is beautiful doesn’t negate the geopolitical realities. Hiking anywhere near the Iranian border (how close do you really need to get???) is asking for trouble. There are plenty of places to get all the thrills and excitement of life without risking imprisonment by a hostile country like Iran.
34. Greg Spence Wolf | 11.19.09
I think encouraging tourism in Iraq would be dangerous
But I also think IRAN has not showed any evidence of their guilt
35. Preston | 11.19.09
Greg,
They entered Iran illegally. What more proof does Iran need? Like the US, Iran is now ascertaining the intent of the guilty parties. Are they spies? Most likely not but you can’t blame Iran for being suspicious. This really doesn’t pass the sniff test. But in the end, the US will exert political capital (and who knows the exact price we’ll end up paying) and the “lost” hikers will come home and write a book and thus encourage future stupidity. There doesn’t seem to be any personal responsibility in the US anymore. In fact, it’s discouraged!
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1. Leila | 11.09.09
Mixing up Roxana Saberi case with this is misleading. Saberi was, I believe, an Iranian citizen. For whatever reason she had some documents in her possession and it looked like more of an internal Iranian political matter as she was somewhat more aligned with the reformers at some point in time. The three American tourist are being held in Iran looks like is a whole different ball of wax. I believe the Iranian foreign minister said it plainly that the US is holding Iranians without any charges why aren’t they released. Actually there were some Iranian diplomats were held by the US in Iraq and were released only after Iraq got them back earlier this year. Also, he maybe referring to other Iranians who have disappeared particularly a former deputy defense minister in Turkey among others holding somewhere else. So this looks like a tit-for-tat for Iranians, and unfortunately the three hikers have gotten themselves caught into this.