(CNN) -- The scheduled trial of two Americans accused of espionage in Iran was delayed again Wednesday after the suspects were not brought from jail to the courthouse, a Swiss diplomat told CNN.
"I have been able to verify that the session has actually been postponed due to the absence of the two prisoners. They were not brought in from prison," said an official with the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, who according to protocol, asked not to be identified. Switzerland represents U.S. interests in Iran.
Iranian authorities had once again barred Swiss diplomats from monitoring trial proceedings of Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, who were charged with espionage after being arrested 22 months ago while hiking along an unmarked border between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan.
The last time Fattal and Bauer appeared in court, Swiss diplomats and the prisoners' defense attorney were not allowed into the courtroom. In an interview with CNN on Tuesday night, defense attorney Masoud Shafii said he had yet to be granted a private meeting with his clients.
Human rights organizations have launched direct appeals to Iranian officials calling for the Americans' release. "
The endless prosecution of the two hikers appears to be little more than a political jab at the United States," said Sarah Leah Whitson of the New York-based organization Human Rights Watch. "This case highlights the cruel and arbitrary nature of the Iranian justice system."
Fattal and Bauer's cell "contains two beds, a sink, a toilet, a shower and an empty space about the size of a large beach towel. With fluorescent lights continuously kept on, Josh and Shane never enjoy the luxury of darkness; in order to sleep at night they have to tie a shirt around their eyes.
An Iranian prosecutor said investigators found "compelling evidence" all three Americans were spies. Suspects convicted on espionage charges can face the death penalty in Iran. The American prisoners have maintained their innocence.
"They were strictly travelers who were near an unmarked border that no one would be able to know whether it was Iraq or Iran," defense lawyer Shafii said. The picturesque mountain border region where the Americans were detained is a popular picnic and camping destination for Iraqi Kurds. The border is also porous. Smugglers regularly cross the frontier on donkeys and horseback, bringing fuel to Iraq and alcohol into the Islamic Republic of Iran.
This is just dumb. Why does Iran have to be so paranoid and attention hungry? These hikers, who most likely weren't doing any type of "espionage" don't need to die, just so Iran can prove that they're going insane. Maybe if they were a little bit more cooperative with the rest of the world, they wouldn't have to worry about "spies", or people who want to get them. At the very least they should let them actually talk to their attorney. They're humans too, and maybe instead of finding reasons to imprison or kill Americans that travel near Iran, they should maybe stop all the smugglers that are going through their borders?
ReplyDeleteRobert pretty much said everything there is to say. There’s one thing I’d like to add though. The hikers should have been knowledgeable enough to know Iran is not a place for Americans. I’m by no means defending Iran’s actions; I just think a little fault lies with the hikers.
ReplyDeleteWe live on a LARGE planet. Why the heck would you choose to "hike" in such a politically sensitive location? If I lived in Iraq or Iran, I definitely would be suspicious of them. I hope they don't die, but next time you go hiking in the Middle East, use a GPS or common sense.
ReplyDeletei think that Iran and the Us should come to better terms for one so that not every tie someone crosses the border they are accused of spying. its a little ridiculous. BUT, if they cant ever get on better terms, people shouldnt be hiking their, thats their own stupidity. use common sense and dont hike next to the country known for killing people for "spying" thats just not very smart on your part.
ReplyDeleteI think that the hikers shouldn't have been hiking their in the first place, so their kinda getting what they deserve. But yet i agree with victoria about the US and Iran coming together and not accusing everybody that crosses the border is a spy, If that was to happen between us and Iran i think their would be way less deaths. I also think that If they are going to hike to Iran and get caught, I think that they should have been carrying something that said that they were only hiking and not doing something illegal. They should have had and identification card that proves to the Iranians that they were just tourists.
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