http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/world/middleeast/12iran.html?_r=1
Trial of American Hikers Charged With Espionage in Iran Is Unexpectedly Delayed By ALAN COWELL <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/alan_cowell/in dex.html?inline=nyt-per> Published: May 11, 2011 PARIS The trial of three Americans charged with espionage and illegal entry in <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/ir an/index.html?inline=nyt-geo> Iran after their arrest almost two years ago near the border with Iraqi Kurdistan failed to resume in Tehran on Wednesday, and their Iranian lawyer said he had formally protested the delay. One of the defendants, Sarah E. Shourd, 32, was released on bail last September for medical reasons and returned to the United States. The other two, Joshua F. Fattal and Shane M. Bauer, both 28, had been set to appear for a hearing on Wednesday, but their lawyer, Masoud Shafiee, said they were not brought to court, news reports said. Reuters quoted Mr. Shafiee as saying that he had lodged a formal protest. The case has added to the tensions between Iran and the United States relating to many issues but focusing on Irans nuclear enrichment program. Western countries say it aims to create weapons, but Tehran says it is intended to help generate civilian electric power. The reason for the defendants absence in court on Wednesday was not immediately known. On two previous occasions, judges delayed the proceedings, citing the absence of Ms. Shourd. The three Americans, who were arrested in July 2009, deny that they were involved in espionage or that they knowingly entered Iran during what they have described as a hiking trip in Iraq. Previously, Mr. Shafiee argued that Iranian law did not permit the judiciary to postpone the case because of Ms. Shourds absence. When there are several accused persons, a judge cannot postpone the case just because one of them is not present, Mr. Shafiee said in a telephone interview in late April. The judge must issue separate verdicts for Shane and Josh. Sarahs verdict can be issued in absentia, or her case alone can be delayed. On Tuesday, the State Department in Washington urged Iran to resolve the case quickly. In <http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/iran-end-sham-trial-and-release- us-hikers-2011-05-10> a statement, Amnesty International also called for the release of the Americans, saying their case had not met international standards for a fair trial. It said the judicial process indicates a political motive in holding them, which may amount to hostage-taking. The facts surrounding the hikers arrest are disputed, and Irans justice system has systematically failed to observe international fair trial standards in this case, including giving the men adequate contact with their lawyers, families or consular assistance, the statement said, quoting Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty Internationals deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa. The United States has had no diplomatic relations with Iran since shortly after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran represents American interests. The two men have been held in Evin prison in Tehran and have only been granted one brief encounter with family, when their mothers visited Iran in May 2010, the statement said. Two previous hearings, in November and February, were held in private. Iranian law provides for such cases to be held in public, but judges are able to make exceptions in sensitive cases. In an interview in November, Ms. Shourd said that she; Mr. Bauer, who is her fiancé; and Mr. Fattal were hiking on an unmarked dirt road when a guard gestured to them. He pointed to the ground and said Iran and pointed to the trail we had been on before he waved to us, then said Iraq, said Ms. Shourd, who lives in Oakland, Calif. We did not actually enter Iran until he gestured to us. We were confused and worried and wanted to go back. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [email protected]. -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [email protected] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtmlYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
