• Live Radio
  • Videos
  • About
  • Contact
  • Despite Media
Ghana Election 2020
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Politics
  • Showbiz
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • VIDEOS
  • Media
    • Videos
    • Audio
    • Live Radio
    • Photos
  • Election 2020
Local News
 
 
 
Home News General News 201108

Iran 'Jails US Hikers eight Years For Spying'

20-Aug-2011
/ General News, News
Email
Print
Comments 0
The men said they had no intention of straying into Iran during their hike on the Iran-Iraq border
(0)
Comments
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
 

Two US hikers accused of spying and illegally entering Iran have been jailed for eight years by a court in Tehran, reports say. Iranian state TV's website said Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal each received three years for illegally entering Iran and five years for spying.

The two men deny the charges, saying they unknowingly crossed into the country while hiking in July 2009.

Fellow hiker Sarah Shourd was freed on $500,000 (Ł314,386) bail last year. "In connection with illegal entry into Iranian territory, each was given three years in jail and in connection with the charge of co-operating with American intelligence service, each was given five years in jail," the website reported, quoting an informed judiciary source.

The report said "the case of Sarah Shourd, who has been freed on bail, is still open", AFP news agency says.

The men are said to have 20 days in which to appeal against the sentence.

Their lawyer, Masoud Shafii, said he had not been informed of any verdict. "I don't know if this report is true or not, but this is not a light sentence," he told Reuters news agency.

Mr Bauer, a freelance journalist and fluent Arabic speaker, moved in 2008 to the Syrian capital Damascus, where he lived with Ms Shourd, 32, a teacher, writer and women's rights activist. The two met while organising demonstrations against the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Mr Fattal, an environmentalist and teacher, had travelled to Damascus in 2009 to visit his friends.

The trio - all graduates of the University of California, Berkeley - had travelled to Iraqi Kurdistan for a week's holiday. They had visited the tourist village of Ahmed Awa, and hiked along a trail local residents had recommended, Ms Shourd said.

While out walking they were stopped and arrested by Iranian troops who told them they were in Iranian territory. The friends have always maintained that if they did stray into Iran, they did so mistakenly.She was released on humanitarian and medical grounds in September 2010 and flew back to the US. She did not return to face trial, saying in May she had suffered from post-traumatic stress and would find a return "too traumatic".

The US said it was trying to confirm reports of the sentences through the Swiss Protecting Power, which handles US diplomatic interests with Tehran because Washington does not have diplomatic relations with Iran.

"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," US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

"Shane and Josh have been imprisoned too long, and it is time to reunite them with their families."

Not a light sentence'

The trial began in February 2011 and Mr Bauer, 28, and Mr Fattal, 29, pleaded not guilty. Ms Shourd - Mr Bauer's fiancee - pleaded not guilty in absentia. The trial ended on 31 July, on the second anniversary of their arrest.

Source: bbc

 

 
 

 

Comments ( 0 ): Post Your Comments >>

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
Featured Video
Previous Post

More In Court For Accra Mall Robbery

Next Post

'I'll kill You If You Come Between Us'...

 
 

More Stories

Amb. Samuel Owusu Calls On UN To Help Ghana Achieve Sustainable Developed Water Systems
Apostle Cephas Quarshie welcomes US Vice President Kamala Harris To Ghana
Koku Anyidoho inducted into IPR Ghana
Parliament Approves Justices Gaewu, Koomson For Supreme Court
Happy Weekend!!!
Sustainable Restaurants Certification Introduced In Ghana
Accreditation Of Cybersecurity Professionals Will Guide Development Of Cybersecurity Profession In Ghana - Dr. Antwi-Boasiako
Claim That G4O Fuel Sells At Higher Prices False - NPA
Vodafone Red Connect - Building A More Engaged And Customer-Focused Workforce
Next Post

'I'll kill You If You Come Between Us'...

  Local News

  • General News
  • Social
  • Health
  • Education
  • Religion
  • Technology
  • Crime & Justice
  • Travel/Tourism
  • Science/Environment


 
 

 

Other General News Stories

  • Amb. Samuel Owusu Calls On UN To Help Ghana Achieve Sustainable Developed Water Systems

  • Apostle Cephas Quarshie welcomes US Vice President Kamala Harris To Ghana

  • Koku Anyidoho inducted into IPR Ghana

  • Parliament Approves Justices Gaewu, Koomson For Supreme Court

  • Happy Weekend!!!

  • Sustainable Restaurants Certification Introduced In Ghana

  • Accreditation Of Cybersecurity Professionals Will Guide Development Of Cybersecurity Profession In Ghana - Dr. Antwi-Boasiako

  • Claim That G4O Fuel Sells At Higher Prices False - NPA

  • Vodafone Red Connect - Building A More Engaged And Customer-Focused Workforce

  • Sefwi Wiawso/Akontombra: National Youth Authority Embarked On A Step Project

 

 
 

Popular Videos

Kokrokoo Live On Peace 104.3 FM (22/03/2023)

Akan News @ Midday On Peace 104.3 FM (21/03/2023)

Peace Power Sports (21/03/2023)

Kokrokoo Discussion Segment On Peace 104.3 FM (23/03/2023)

Kokrokoo Discussion Segment On Peace 104.3 FM (22/03/2023)

Kokrokoo Live On Peace 104.3 FM (21/03/2023)

Peace FM Online and Despite Media

peacefmonline.com offers its reading audience with a comprehensive online source for up-to-the-minute news about politics, business, entertainment and other issues in Ghana

Follow us on social media:

Category

  • Home
  • Local News
  • Politics
  • Showbiz
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Trivia
  • Foreign
  • Audio
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Elections
Decision Time
Ghana Election 2020 2016 Elections
Services
Live Radio Audio on Demand Ghana Elections Advertise with Us
Useful Links
Despite Media About Us Contact Us Feedback Form Terms and Conditions Privacy
Our Brands
Despite Media UTV Peace FM Okay FM Hello FM Neat FM Peacefmonline
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2020 Peacefmonline.com - An online portal owned and managed by Despite Media

  • Home
  • Local News
  • Politics
  • Showbiz
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Articles
  • Trivia
  • Foreign
  • Live Radio
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Audio
  • Election 2020

© 2020 Peacefmonline.com - An online portal owned and managed by Despite Media