Kurdistan had some guests, composed of Turkey, Iraq and Iran. These visitors hiked there in July 2009. The majority of people who reside there are the Kurds. That is how it got its name. Iranian authorities took all hikers into custody and accused them of espionage and of being spies. Authorities keep changing their minds by initially saying they’d release one, then not, and then actually did release a hiker, Sarah Shourd. A $500,000 request for her release was made. Of course the U.S. said no way. One of the hikers that is nevertheless in custody is her fiancé.
Spying with a hike
All three captured hikers, Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, work within the Middle East. Bauer is also Shourd’s fiancé. Kurdistan was the choice they made to getaway at because within the southern parts of Iraq, it is one of the most free. A village in Iraq Kurdistan, Zalem, is where they ran into Iranian national police. The Nation explains that is where they were detained. .
One hiker freed
Several weeks ago, the Iranian government announced it would release Sarah Shourd on $500,000 bail, which the United States of America government said it would not pay. The Iranian government changed its mind right after. As a result of health reasons, the government changed its mind again and released Sarah Shourd on bail. This comes from CNN. You will find no relations between Washington and Tehran. Also, ever since the 1979, the Swiss have acted as liaison. The bail was deposited in Oman. It was deposited into a financial institution account. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal remain in Iranian custody.
Espionage is not true
Sources said the backpackers didn’t cross into the Iranian border ever. It has been said by many from the area that Iranian police and intelligence operatives cross the border to detain people regularly in the country. The case should only take a couple of minutes. Any judge can do a trespassing charge in about 10 minutes. There is little evidence that the detention of these people was anything some other than politically motivated.
Discover more info on this subject
The Nation
thenation.com/article/36562/us-hikers-were-seized-iraq?page=,
CNN
cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/09/14/iran.detained.american/
