**Breaking: Iran announced today that the three Americans will be charged with espionage. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking from Berlin, said: "We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever. We would renew our request on behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them so they can return home, and we will continue to make that case."
Read Kathy Riordan's piece on this breaking story.
Sunday will mark the 100 day of captivity for Americans Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, and Josh Fattal. The three were seized by Iranian forces when they accidentally crossed the border between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan in the mountains east of Sulaimaniyah on July 31.
Their story has been met with an almighty "meh" by the media and the public-at-large. To call attention to their plight, their families and supporters are holding candle-light vigils across the country this Sunday, November 8.
As with imprisoned journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, I find the lack of interest and occasional bursts of outright contempt surrounding this case...sad. At best, it shows a profound misunderstanding of international relations. At worst, it shows a lack of compassion for fellow citizens in a bad spot.
We all know the arguments. Stupid and/or Ugly Americans acting all entitled are getting what they deserve, so why are we wasting our tax dollars on freeing them? "I'm sorry for the kids, but they went into a known hot zone and crossed into another country illegally. Most nations frown on this," says one representative HuffPo commenter.
First of all, these "kids" we no more "kids" than Lee and Ling were "girls." Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal are 27, Sarah Shourd is 31. Bauer is a freelance photojournalist who has spent the better part of seven years in the Middle East and North Africa. Shroud -- his girlfriend -- is a teacher with the Iraqi Student Project, providing education to displaced Iraqi children in Damascus. Fattal is an environmentalist with a number of stamps in his passport. They aren't neophyte travelers. Bauer and Shourd speak Arabic.
Second, the Kurdish Autonomous Region isn't a "known hot zone."
Iraqi Kurdistan is largely peaceful democracy about the size of Ireland. It has a functioning government, well-developed security force and and a low crime rate. Tourism is, if not booming, at least growing, and the government is dumping millions of aid dollars into revitalizing tourist areas.
No tourist, American or otherwise, has been hurt or killed in the area since around 1992. And there is no record of anyone ever being picked up by Iranian forces along that border.
Like all experienced travelers, the three hikers and their friend, Shon Meckfessel, asked locals the best places to see during their week in Kurdistan. "Every one of them told us to visit a place called Ahmed Awa," Meckfessel has written. "Not one of these people mentioned that Ahmed Awa was anywhere near the Iranian border. In fact, on the wall of our hotel there were three photos of tourists standing near the Ahmed Awa waterfall." Because he was coming down with a cold, he decided to stay behind while the other three spent a couple days camping near the falls.
Meckfessel stayed in phone contact with the three during the trip. "I am absolutely certain that they had no knowledge of their proximity to the Iranian border or they would have never continued in that direction." At about 11:30 on the morning of July 31, "Shane told me they were planning to turn around soon." But at 1:33 that afternoon, Shane called to say "they were being taken into custody and that I should call the embassy."
Yes, most nations frown on border incursions. But any citizen of any country should expect the support of their fellow citizens and their government when imprisoned in foreign jails, no matter what they've done. That isn't just fluffy idealism: it's international law
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 -- which Iran has signed -- "provides that consular officers shall be free to communicate with their nationals and to have access to them," to check up on them and offer legal advice when they can. It doesn't matter if you're a lost hiker or a journalist trying to get a story, or a humanitarian trying to help refugees, or a drug mule with a half-pound of heroin shoved up your privates. You are still a citizen, and you still have rights.
It wasn't until last month the Iran allowed Swiss diplomats, who act as our representative in Iran, some brief visits with the three. Iran maintains that an investigation against them is still in process, but conventional wisdom is that they are holding on to them as leverage in future negotiations. What is the dividing line between "criminals" and "political hostages"? You tell me.
If you are so inclined, I hope you will consider attending a vigil if there is one in your area this weekend, signing a petition, or joining a Facebook group to keep up with developments. More information on Fattal, Bauer and Shourd can be found at freethehikers.org.
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Comments
When did common decency, compassion, and human rights fly out the window because of poor judgment (especially when that isn't the case, as in this case)? I certainly don't feel this perfect...
Rated with hope!
As a photographer who has been detained in China, and who visited Iran solo in 2005, it appears unlikely to me to be otherwise.
I took my own chances and worked things out myself, so people like ms. young wouldn't have to get sick about me. Whether they deserve imprisonment, I sure hope not. We imprison people crossing our borders from friendly nations that never attacked us or overthrew our governnment, and if we found Iranians crossing our borders I suspect they would get special attention. Kate feels that state department protestations equal turning our backs for reasons unclear to me.
My experience traveling alone in Iran in 2005 was in every way welcoming; almost too much so. The people there love americans, most have relatives in america and now american relatives. They don't like the mullahs, remember the economy during the shah wistfully and wish for better relations. The propangandists in the extremist unfortunately are provided with a lot of ammunition from history.
The Iranians are the most logical partner for us in this area. My impression from many conversations is that they feel the U.S. was complicit in what they feel was ethnic cleansing in Palestine. I one wishes to discuss this with them, as I did, I suggest a little preparation beforehand because they will be ready.
"All the Shah's Men" by steven kinzer is a good start to see how our relationship has developed. You can probably read one of their books/articles when they are released.
Two of the three have surnames suggesting Middle-East heritage--perhaps this puts them closer to the "apostate" category.
As for the difference between "criminals" and "political hostages", what makes you think there is one? Let's assume that these "innocents abroad" did no more than inadvertently trespass on Iranian territory, that's still a crime from the Iranian perspective--obviously a trivial one by itself, but nonetheless. If they are being held for political bargaining, that's how it usually works--there has to be a legal pretext, but a minor enough one that the government will not lose face by releasing them. We can just hope they are being well treated and will be speedily released. Somehow I suspect (and hope) that will be the case even if an ex-president does not go to pick them up.