Red Rock On Air

Sunday marked six months since Minnesota native Shane Bauer and his friends Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd were arrested in Iran after they crossed the border while on a hiking trip in Iraq.  They remain in an Iranian jail.

Bauer’s mother, Cindy Hickey, who lives in Pine City, tells Red Rock Radio that little progress has been made since the American’s detention on July 31st.

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Hickey says as far as she knows, her son and his friends are only charged with illegal crossing of the border.  However, multiple reports from Iran indicate the three are also charged with espionage.

Swiss diplomats were granted consular access to the three Americans at the end of October.  The 40-minute visit took place at Evin Prison in Tehran and the diplomats told the families that Bauer and the two others were doing fine physically.  However, Hickey says that is the most recent information the families have received regarding their loved ones statuses.

shanebauer.net

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said during a press briefing last week, “it’s one of the reasons why we have been concerned about the welfare of the hikers since they crossed into Iran. It’s why we have demanded consular access repeatedly of the Iranian Government. And unfortunately, we have not had consular access through our protecting power in three months.”

Hickey says the lack of communication only adds to the frustration and describes the situation as a “stalemate.”

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Vigil Held in Pine City in Nov, 2009

Families and supporters of the Americans continue to hold vigils and fundraisers for the legal fees that are mounting in the release efforts.  Hickey says another vigil in Pine City is a possibility to mark the 200-day anniversary of her son’s detention.

Over the past 185 days, Hickey says she is in constant contact with the parents Shourd and Fattal.

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Hickey also encourages people to continue to send letters to Bauer, Shourd, and Fattal.  She has been told that they are receiving the letters and said they are important to the American’s mental state.

Letter can be sent to:

Free the Hikers

P.O. Box 15065

Duluth, MN 55815