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[Off the Wire] Hostages in Iran: Day 760
Miami, Fl
It has been 760 days since Shane Michael Bauer and Joshua Felix Fattal were taken hostage prisoner by The Islamic Republic of Iran. The two American men were officially sentenced last week to 8 more years each on trumped up charges of espionage (5 years) and illegal entry (3 years). The men, along with their companion Sarah Shourd were abducted arrested while hiking near a waterfall in a resort area of Iraqi Kurdistan after allegedly crossing the craggy, unmarked frontier.
Ms.Shourd was freed released on September 10, 2010 on a $500,000 ransom bail ostensibly for “medical complications” resulting from breast cancer. However, the Iranian regime demanded her return at the start of the show trial which began on July 31, 2011. She understandably declined their invitation to be taken hostage again and continues to fight for her companions release from the safety of her home in the United States. We can only imagine that what must be particularly distressing for Ms.Shourd is the fact that Shane Bauer is also her fiancee.
The Obama Administration, never at a loss for words when it comes to parochial political considerations or averse to prime time speaking opportunities has remained deathly silent when it comes to the fate of the hostages prisoners in Iran. It must be said that in preparation for this editorial we extensively searched for statements from the President or officials in his Administration on this crisis situation and we found virtually nothing in comparison to the plethora of quotes on obstructionist Republicans, hobbits, trolls, protecting the rich, right wing extremists, the problems inherited from George Bush and hostage taking Tea-Partiers. There is no mention of the very real fact that the Mullahs Iranian Government is using American hostages prisoners (there are more than just Mr.Bauer and Fattal being held captive) as a bargaining tool to avoid international sanctions over their accelerating nuclear weapons program.
Here are a few of the most recent statements we could find (along with the dates and linkbacks to the complete stories):
- Iran To Release American Hikers: “CNN has announced that Iran plans to release Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, the two American young men who have spent two years in Iranian prison and were recently sentenced to serve eight more, convicted of spying on Iran as agents for the US government. The men will be released on $500,000 bail each — or, in more realistic terms, an extortion payment of $1 million.” Forbes, September 13, 2012
- Obama urges Iran to release three U.S. hikers: “Their unjust detention has nothing to do with the issues that continue to divide the United States and the international community from the Iranian government…” President Obama, Reuters, July 30, 2010
- US ‘Deeply Disappointed’ With Hikers’ Sentence in Iran: “U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she is “deeply disappointed…” and joins Obama in expressing their “unflagging support” for the two men.” Voice of America, August 21, 2011
- Hikers’ sentence in Iran a miscarriage of ‘justice’: ” The Obama administration has called for the Americans’ release, as has U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Amnesty International, Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, Muhammad Ali and dozens of other prominent international figures. The Iranian government’s contempt for international judicial norms does it no good. It ought to free the hikers.” Washington Post, August 26, 2011
- US hikers can’t walk: “We have repeatedly called for the release of Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal, who have now been held in Iran’s Evin prison for two years…It is time to reunite them with their families.”State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, August 30, 2011These are by no means all the articles or references to this ongoing
injusticestory but it gives you an overview, certainly when compared to the President’s pronouncements on every other issueunder the Sunas to theseeminglack of concern for the men’s fate. We can only imagine what is going on behind closed doors between the Administration and the Iranian Government but hope that a more forceful and robustultimatumresponse has been issued regarding their release. - Obama Calls on Iran to Release American Hikers on Anniversary of Detention: “For a full year, they have been held in prison, causing extraordinary grief and uncertainty for them, for their families, and for their loved ones… All Americans stand together in support of our citizens who are suffering through unjust detention abroad, and we will not rest until they are home.” President Obama, Bloomberg News, July 30, 2010
- Missing and Detained Americans in Iran: “The United States is deeply concerned about the welfare of our American citizens who have been detained or are missing in Iran. We once again urge Iran’s leadership to quickly resolve all outstanding American citizen cases.” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, State Department Press Release, August 15, 2009
- Former FBI Agent, Missing for Four Years, Could Be Alive in Southwest Asia: “…secret US diplomatic cable, posted online public by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, that quotes an unidentified escaped prisoner who says he saw Levinson’s name on a prison door in Iran.” ABC News, March 3, 2011
In addition there are several other US citizens either being held or suspected or being held by the Iranian Government. They include Kian Tajbakhsh, Robert Levinson and possibly others. Please continue to remember them and their families.
We encourage everyone, regardless of political party or ideology to contact the White House, members of their Congressional Delegation, the Press, local Newspapers and demand that immediate action other than an occasional statement be taken to secure their release. We would also ask that you help raise awareness of this issue through your various social networks.
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As part of our Hostages in Iran coverage and in consideration of the urgency of this situation, we’ve decided to make it easier to communicate with the White House. Below is form to directly email the White House. Please remember to always be respectful and courteous. ThirdRailers.com does not review or censor any comment you make… it goes to the White House in the form you send it. (However, we reserve the right to republish any correspondence transmitted. We will not include your last name or identifying information without first obtaining you express written consent.)
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Resources: (This list will be updated. Feel free to contribute additional sources.)
Amnesty International Effort to Free Hostages
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As long as Obama is in power, we will never get the hostages. Sad but true.
Sad, but probably very true…
Lucky for the them someone ponied up the $1M ransom.