US hikers jailed in Iran for spying to appeal against sentence

[alp227]

Source: Reuters

The lawyer for two Americans convicted of spying in Iran has said he will appeal against their eight-year sentences. The verdict shocked their families, who hoped to see them freed after more than two years already spent in Evin, Tehran's most notorious prison.

Shane Bauer, 28, and Josh Fattal, 29, were arrested in 2009 on the border with Iraq, where they said they were hiking. They were found guilty of illegal entry and espionage at their closed trial, which ended on 31 July. The verdict is likely to further strain Iran's already poor relations with Washington.

"We have 20 days to appeal and I will try my best to use all legal means to annul the sentence," lawyer Masoud Shafiee told Reuters.

"It was my belief, and still is, that they are innocent and I have not seen any evidence that shows they are guilty."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/21/appeal-hikers-iran-jailed-spying

[leveymg]

1. Let's put it this way, if a group of Iranians "hiked" across the Mexico border they'd be in Gitmo,

without a trial.

Of course the espionage case against them is circumstantial. Isn't it always?

They'll probably get swapped out in some spy exchange long before they've served their sentences.

[Fool Count]

2. Hikers? Who the hell goes "hiking" on Iran-Iraq border?

Must be some real hard-core "hikers". Imagine the logistics of that hiking expedition.
"Hey, guys, what do you say we fly to Mosul and do some hiking there?". "What a great
idea, I'm in."

[laconicsax]

3. Well there just aren't any good places to hike in North America...

let alone the continental United States.

:sarcasm:

[BadtotheboneBob]

4. Damn fools, that's who...

If those three (don't forget the woman that was let go) were 'spies' then I'm Hugo Chavez... and I ain't Ol' Hugo, I'm tellin' ya.

[awoke_in_2003]

8. we are on to you, comrade

:) Kidding- welcome to DU :hi:

[BadtotheboneBob]

11. LOL

Thanks, ai2...

[Ash_F]

5. Worldly liberals, that is who.

Read a little bit about these people. They are good people. This situation is sad.

I bet the sentences were so steep because of outrage at the recent murders of those Iranian scientists by whatever clandestine organization. Warhawks fuck things up for regular people as usual.

[saras]

6. As far as "hardcore hikers" go - hopefully more of them

http://www.eturbonews.com/10889/iran-iraq-border-attracts-hikers-travelers"> Iran-Iraq Border Attracts Hikers, Travelers

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-news/holiday-in-hell-why-iraq-is-on-the-tourist-trek-20100916-15dho.html"> Holiday In Hell: Why Iraq Is On The Tourist Trek (Brisbane Times)

...while the right-wing blogosphere is full of rants about how they are really leftists, anti-Israel activists (although Jews), hippies, or (my favorite) leftist spies for the CIA.

So, basically, without any irony and snark, you're accurate. Of course anyone who's going to travel the world to go hiking is going to go someplace amazing that hardly anybody goes. That's what hikers do. And if there's a tourist office setting it up for you, then all the better.

Given that they so clearly are NOT spies, I just don't understand why anyone, including the authorities there, have a problem with them. The stupidity looks to me to be completely and entirely on the other side.

edit: add second link

[awoke_in_2003]

9. GPS is your friend...

especially when hiking near Iran or North Korea.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. substitute "hell" with "fuck"...

and that is the idea that went through my head. "Oh look, honey, at all of this beautiful sand and depleted uranium. Doesn't it have a pretty glow at night?"

[tawadi]

10. Can't help wondering if they have been disavowed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11PsHTbwCOI

:tinfoilhat: