In 2009, 3 people hiked within the area composed of Turkey, Iraq and Iran called Kurdistan. The majority of people who reside there are the Kurds. That is how it got its name. Iranian authorities took all hikers into custody and accused them of espionage and of being spies. Authorities keep changing their minds by originally saying they’d release one, then not, and then really did release a hiker, Sarah Shourd. A $500,000 request for her release was made. Of course the U.S. said no way. One of the hikers that is nevertheless in custody is her fiancé.
Using a hike to secretly spy
All three captured hikers, Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, work in the Middle East. Bauer is the one Shourd is engaged to. Kurdistan was the choice they made to escape at because southern parts of Iraq, it is one of the most free. The Nation reports the backpackers ran into Iranian police and were detained right outside of Zalem, a village in Iraqi Kurdistan. It is not all that easy to determine where the border really is. Locals, nevertheless, explain that it is common to view Iranian forces in Iraq.
Freeing on hiker
The United States of America government said no when the Iranian government announced it wanted $500,000 for the release of Shourd. After making the statement, the government changed its mind in Iran. The, says CNN, Sarah Shourd was announced to be released on bail because of health reasons. Ever since the 1979 the Swiss are acting as liaison when Washington and Tehran have no relations. Supposedly, a bank account in Oman is where the bail originated from. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal weren’t as lucky. They’re still in Iranian custody.
Espionage is not true
There was never a cross into the Iranian border by the backpackers. This comes from many sources. Apparently the Iranian police and intelligence come across the line all the time to detain individuals. This comes from those who live in the area. A simple accidental trespassing charge should take 10 minutes in front of any judge. It appears like the only reason the government would keep the people detained would be for political reasons.
Find more information on this subject
The Nation
thenation.com/article/36562/us-hikers-were-seized-iraq?page=,
CNN
cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/09/14/iran.detained.american/
