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Hikers: Iran Held Us for Being American

Iran 'always tied our case to its political disputes': Fattal

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 25, 2011 5:16 PM CDT

(Newser) – The two American hikers back home from Iran today said Iran held them because they are American, the AP reports. Joshua Fattal said that while he and fellow hiker Shane Bauer "applaud Iranian authorities for finally making the right decision," they "do not deserve undue credit for ending what they had no right and no justification to start in the first place." Fattal added that Iran "always tied our case to its political disputes with the US."

Their 2-year detention was "never about crossing the unmarked border between Iran and Iraq" while hiking in 2009, Bauer said. Had they crossed the border? "We will probably never know." The irony, he said, is that the hikers "oppose US policies towards Iran which perpetuate this hostility." Taking no questions, they described the horrors of prison life and the surprise of their return home. Fattal described the days after their release as "the most incredible experience of our lives."

Freed Americans Josh Fattal, center, addresses reporters and Shane Bauer, right, stands with Sarah Shourd, his fiance, fellow hiker and captive, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011 in New York.
Freed Americans Josh Fattal, center, addresses reporters and Shane Bauer, right, stands with Sarah Shourd, his fiance, fellow hiker and captive, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011 in New York.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Freed American Shane Bauer, center, addresses reporters as Josh Fattal, right, stand with Sarah Shourd, Bauer's fiance, fellow hiker and captive, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011 in New York.
Freed American Shane Bauer, center, addresses reporters as Josh Fattal, right, stand with Sarah Shourd, Bauer's fiance, fellow hiker and captive, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011 in New York.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Freed American Josh Fattal, left, speaks to reporters as fellow former captive Shane Bauer listens Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, in New York.
Freed American Josh Fattal, left, speaks to reporters as fellow former captive Shane Bauer listens Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, in New York.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 41 comments
beeze
Sep 26, 2011 9:14 AM CDT
glad they're back - but there is still some things to deal with in the middle east. http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre78n2qc-us-syria/
wd56
Sep 26, 2011 3:09 AM CDT
What did they think? They would hike in a war zone next to a country that hates them and they'd be set free for saying shit like Oh we dont agree with America's policies towards you and Iran would be like heyyy no problem...lets be bffs now?
FegelahBoychic2
Sep 26, 2011 3:05 AM CDT
Joshua is another loud-mouthed Jew from my synagogue, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, here in Philly who just doesn"t know when to shut up. They crossed the border and broke the law. It's like Mexicans who cross our border into Texas saying they weren't sure if they crossed the border but they need a job anyway.
US

 
Iran • Shane Bauer • Sarah Shourd • Josh Fattal • hikers Iran

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