NEED FOR GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMUNITY

[Free the Hikers]

Dear Friends and Supporters of SSJ,

I write because we need your help mobilizing the human rights
community. So far, to the best of my knowledge, only Human Rights
Watch and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran have
actively advocated for Shane, Sarah and Josh’s release. We need more
people and organizations decrying the systematic abuse of their
rights. The HRW article below does a good job of elaborating on some
of the contraventions of International Humanitarian Law and Iranian
law (although now it is a bit dated).

APR 30 | IRAN: FREE THREE AMERICANS HELD SINCE JULY—HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/04/28/iran-free-three-americans-held-july

Primary among our concerns right now is the fact that Sarah is STILL
being held alone and is only allowed to see the boys for one hour per
day. That means for twenty-three hours a day she is sitting in a cell
by herself, which is cruel and inhumane.

Beyond concerns for the conditions of their detention the hikers’
mothers report they were pasty in the complexion and their teeth had
yellow marks indicating some mineral deficiency, they were
psychologically and emotionally effected by their near total
isolation, and that they had a particularly difficult time during the
first few days they were arrested and during first four months of
their detention when they were isolated from each other we are
extremely concerned about the lack of movement in their case.

They have not been interrogated for seven months. We have been
promised a prompt judicial hearing since September. We have heard many
times from Iranian officials that their case is in the hands of the
judiciary, however so far the judiciary has taken no action. Iranian
law stipulates that they must be brought before a judge within four
months or released. Needless to say that period has long expired.
Justice and compassion, which the Islamic Republic of Iran purports to
embody, are terribly overdue.

We ask that you alert your friends and colleagues in the human rights
community to the situation and ask them to take action, to write
reports and publicize them, to alert their membership and direct them
to the Take Action section of our website www.freethehikers.org. We
have lodged a complaint with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention but there are many other forums that should know about
Shane, Sarah and Josh’s unjust detention. If you as a supporter can do
the legwork in reaching out to and liaising with the human rights
community on our behalf we would be tremendously appreciative.

Thanks for considering this request.

Alex [Josh’s brother]



www.freethehikers.org
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=34187&ref=profile
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