An ongoing hiking mishap

Two hikers accused of espionage and illegal entry will go to trial on May 11 after spending 19 months in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.

Joshua F. Fattal

Joshua F. Fattal and Shane M. Bauer, both 28, and Sarah E. Shourd, 32, were hiking near the Iranian border in June 2009 when they unknowingly entered Iranian territory. Shourd was released on bail last September for medial reasons.

Judges have delayed a verdict in the case twice before, crediting it to the absence of Shourd.

According to Fattal and Bauer’s lawyer, Masoud Shafiee, Shourd has been summoned in a letter from Iran’s Foreign Ministry to return, but it is unlikely she will.

“When there are several accused persons, a judge cannot postpone the case just because one of them is not present,” Shafiee noted. “The judge must issue separate verdicts for Shane and Josh. Sarah’s verdict can be issued in absentia, or her case alone can be delayed.”

In an interview in November, Shourd said that she, Mauer and Fattal were hiking on an unmarked dirt road and accidentally crossed into Iran.

Shane M. Bauer

Iranian officials have acknowledged that the border region is marked inadequately, but will continue the trials this month.

It seems obvious that the hikers were unaware they were in Iranian territory. It isn’t fair the government wont let them go. I feel for these three Americans. They should’ve been more aware of their surrounding or taken a guide to hike with them, but if the government knows it is easy to mistake the trail and border then it shouldn’t even be much of an issue in the first place. The border guard should’ve just told them to turn around.