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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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9

Iran Charges American Hikers With Illegal Entry

Says case is being used by West for propaganda

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(Newser) – Iran has charged the three American hikers who stumbled across its border with illegal entry, a security official announced today. “They are definitely Americans. We don’t know whether they are tourists or not. We are questioning them,” he said. Authorities accused the West of using the case for propaganda, and state media outlets evinced skepticism that the prisoners were really harmless hikers—at least one is a freelance journalist.

“While BBC said they were mountain hikers, some websites say they were journalists,” said one newscaster on Iran’s top state-run channel. “Since occupation of Iraq by US-led forces, American journalists have traveled to neighboring countries illegally.” Friends and family say the trio didn’t intend to crossover into Iran.

This image, taken from his website, ShaneBauer.net, shows captured American Shane Bauer.
This image, taken from his website, ShaneBauer.net, shows captured American Shane Bauer.
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An MSNBC segment on the Americans being held in Iran.   (msnbc)

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9 comments
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gabo
Aug 4, 09 9:02 AM CDT
I would have charged them with first degree stupidity. Reply
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+7
IN RESPONSE:
Timinator2K
Aug 4, 09 9:15 AM CDT
You could throw the whole Big Book of Stupidity at them and bounce it off their thick skulls.
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+5
Timinator2K
Aug 4, 09 9:13 AM CDT
Youts of America, very stupid actions can have very unpleasant consequences...no matter that you're a young, Xtreme tourist not prone to "following the rulz." Put them to a little hard labor and the point should sink in that illegal entry into any country (except the US) will probably not taken as an intruder's privilege with social benefit entitlements-a-plenty to follow. Reply
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+4
BleeBloo
Aug 4, 09 9:15 AM CDT
Wow, that image really tells me everything I need to know about this guy. Reply
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+2
ruserious
Aug 4, 09 9:15 AM CDT
It was an accidental entry--the news stations say that the border is not well-defined and that it's hard to tell where it is. I don't think that makes them stupid, I think that makes them unfortunate. Reply
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-3

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The website of one of the hikers
http://shanebauer.net/


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