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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Family Confirms US Hiker's Arrest in Iran

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(Newser) – The mother of one of the three Americans detained while hiking near the Iran-Iraq border confirmed that her son has been arrested by Iranian security forces, reports CNN. Joshua Fattal of Pennsylvania and two friends, who were warned by Iraqi police not to hike in the border region, were seized Friday afternoon. The fourth American in the group, who stayed behind at the group's Iraqi hotel, is now at the US embassy in Baghdad.

A State Department spokesman told reporters that he has instructed the Swiss embassy in Tehran—which represents American interests, since the US has no diplomatic representation in Iran—to seek access to the hikers. Authorities in Iraq's Kurdish region have also attempted to mediate.

The three Americans arrested on Friday were hiking near the Iran-Iraq border.
The three Americans arrested on Friday were hiking near the Iran-Iraq border.   (Getty Images)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.   (AP Photo/ISNA,Amin Khosroshahi)
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When they told me that they are planning to go to Ahmed Awa, I told them, 'Don't go there because it is unsafe for you because you're American and Ahmed Awa is very close to the Iranian border.' - Mudhafer Mohammed, owner of the Iraq inn where the three arrested Yanks stayed

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9 comments
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MrsK
Aug 2, 09 6:41 AM CDT
Geniuses. Reply
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0
jagerhans
Aug 2, 09 6:43 AM CDT
since U.S. have death penalty I'll never be going to visit the states: I don't like visiting countries that reserve the right to kill me if they think it's good for them. So to me it's totally weird that a US citizen chooses such a place to go hiking. Next year? long excursions deep into the tribal territories of Afghanistan ? Reply
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-3
gabo
Aug 2, 09 7:08 AM CDT
Cross these three off the brain donor list. Reply
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+4
Reader60610265
Aug 2, 09 9:17 AM CDT
Great example the of young adult intelligence or the lack of it . Reply
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+1
muleskinner
Aug 2, 09 9:31 AM CDT
hey, create an incident, get rescued , go on national (morning shows) write a book, sell movie rights, get rich. Why else would these dummies do this, when they were warned. Reply
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+3

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