Loading ...Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Asks for Release of Hikers
Miread Maguire has written to President Ahmadinejad appealing to the Iran President for the release of Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal from their detention in Evin Prison Tehran, Iran
The three young American Hikers have now been held for over four months without charge and without contact with their families.
In a letter to President Ahmadinejad Maguire says: ‘Their continued detention, without due process raises serious concerns that Iran is not meeting its commitment to the rule of Law, and raises further concerns that Iran is holding these three young American people for political purposes.
Although the Iranian authorities have claimed that these young Americans entered your country illegally from Iraqi Kurdistan, they were actually hiking in an area where the border is poorly marked. The background of these three young Americans shows their long commitment to working for a better world by using their respective gifts in the areas of journalism, women’s’ rights and environment issues. Many people, particularly Youth, both in Iran and in other countries, are working for a better world and some travel to learn and share with people in other countries, as these young people were doing. In an interconnected, interdependent World, we are all challenged to do what we can to learn about our world through study and travel, and it is surely the task of Leaders in all countries to help make this possible by ensuring the safety and freedom of people, particularly youth to travel, thereby getting to know different cultures and building bridges of friendship. So for this purpose it is important all peoples feel they can travel and will be made welcome and safe during their journeys. It is in this way we will, as the Human Family, bring down the barriers of fear and separation, between individuals and countries, and build peace. Recognizing this right to freedom and right to travel, I hope Iran will set Shane, Sarah and Josh free thereby giving an example to other countries, of leniency and compassion.