Free the hikers: Free Josh, Sarah and Shane

Dear Free the Hikers Supporters,

For those who would like more regular contact please join the Google Group by sending an email request to freethehikers [at] gmail.com. If you are on Facebook and Twitter please join our Fan Page and follow us.

RECENT NEWS

Here is a review of recent campaign efforts:


December 18, 2009 – Nora Shourd, mother of Sarah Shourd, sends out a video message on behalf of all three mothers to Supreme Leader Ayatolla Sayyed Ali Khamenei asking for compassion over the holiday period.
December 20, 2009 – Nobel Prize winner Mairead Maguire calls for hikers’ release.
December 22, 2009 – Vigils of hope are held throughout the US to provide strength and hope to the hikers.

December 27, 2009 – The families of the hikers retain prominent independent attorney, Massoud Shafii, to represent their children.


January 6, 2010 – Public intellectual, linguist and strident critic of American foreign policy Noam Chomsky explains Iran is detaining innocent people and calls for hikers’ release.

January 18, 2010 – Siblings of the hikers issue a call for video responses to their video in an effort to provide support to Shane, Sarah and Josh and lobby for their release.

January 25, 2010 – Recently released Belgian Bikers express concerns about the hikers’ conditions and psychological state due to their long periods of time in solitary confinement.

January 29, 2010 – Berkeley City Council unanimously passes a resolution calling for the hikers’ release reminding Iran that they are part of a community frequently very critical of the United States’ foreign policies.

At the bottom of this email is a list of news items posted to http://www.freethehikers.org.


UPCOMING

The families of the hikers, deeply saddened and frustrated by the lack of progress on their loved ones case, the absolute lack of contact with the hikers, the uncertainty about their well being, the inability of their lawyer to visit them, and the consistent denial of consular access by Swiss diplomats, will be doing a series of interviews to mark six months of their detention on January 31st.


The families continue to hope that the hikers will be released without a trial, but are preparing for a legal process. The only accusations thus far have been of illegal entry, but things can shift rapidly. If you would like to support the legal fund you can donate online here. We deeply appreciate your help. Funds raised will mainly go towards legal fees, but also towards website maintenance and organizational costs.


HOW YOU CAN HELP


Get ten friends to sign the petition.
Upload a video response to the siblings’ video.
Pass a resolution in your city or at your university.
Put on an event in your community to raise awareness about the hikers and raise funds for the FTH campaign.
Write to the hikers.
Become a Fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Continue spreading the word and share this "10 Things You Can Do" video to let others know how they can help.

THANKS

Thank you for supporting the hikers. Each day that they languish in Evin Prison, the strength we get to carry on is from you. Please keep Shane, Sarah and Josh in your thoughts and continue to do everything you can to help bring the hikers home soon.


RECENT MEDIA ABOUT THE HIKERS’ CASE

JAN 27 | SOLITARY CONFINEMENT TAKING TOLL ON U.S. HIKERS IN IRAN PRISON—ABC NEWS

JAN 26 | THE PRISON CONDITIONS FOR THE THREE HIKERS—NYT BLOG

JAN 26 | FREED BELGIANS CITE FEARS FOR U.S. HIKERS IN IRAN—CNN

JAN 26 | نگرانی درباره وضع سه آمریکایی زندانی در ایران—BBC PERSIAN

JAN 19 | PETITION TO FREE IMPRISONED IRANIAN HIKERS LAUNCHES ON YOUTUBE—CITIZEN TUBE

JAN 12 | IRAN SAYS DETAINED AMERICANS TO BE TRIED SOON—WASHINGTON TV

JAN 11 | EDITORIAL: LET THEM GO—PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

JAN 06 | CHOMSKY URGES IRAN TO FREE UC BERKELEY GRADS—OAKLAND TRIBUNE

JAN 06 | چامسکی خواستار آزادی سه کوهنورد آمریکایی زندانی در ایران شد—RADIO FARDA

JAN 05 | مجرم یا گروگان؛ بازداشت شدگان آمریکایی در ایران—BBC PERSIAN

DEC 29 | DETAINED US HIKERS IN IRAN: HELP BRING THEM HOME—CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

DEC 28 | FOR IRAN, RELEASE OF HIKERS MIGHT BE JUST WHAT IT NEEDS—WSJ

DEC 27 | FAMILIES OF 3 AMERICANS HELD IN IRAN HIRE LAWYER—AP

DEC 22 | VIGIL OF HOPE’ HELD FOR HIKERS DETAINED IN IRAN—OAKLAND TRIBUNE

DEC 22 | ELKINS PARK HIKER, TWO OTHERS STILL DETAINED IN IRAN—MONTGOMERY NEWS

DEC 22 | FOURTH BERKELEY HIKER HONORS FRIENDS IN IRAN —ABC7

DEC 22 | PROSECUTOR: IRAN STILL INVESTIGATING THREE AMERICANS—AP

DEC 21 | NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE ASKS FOR RELEASE OF HIKERS—RED ROCK

DEC 21 | EXCLUSIVE: AHMADINEJAD HEDGES ON FREEING AMERICAN HIKERS—ABC

DEC 21 | IRAN EXPECTS SPEEDY TRIAL OF 3 AMERICAN HIKERS—AP

DEC 19 | US HIKERS CAUGHT IN IRAN SENSITIVE ARMY ZONE: AHMADINEJAD—AFP

DEC 19 | MOTHERS OF DETAINED AMERICANS IN IRAN SAY ‘CHRISTMAS WON’T BE A CELEBRATION’—RADIO LIBERTY

DEC 18 | A MOTHER’S APPEAL – VIDEO ASKS FOR RELEASE OF JAILED HIKERS IN IRAN—NBC TODAY SHOW

DEC 18 | DETAINED HIKERS’ MOMS MAKE HOLIDAY PLEA ON TODAY SHOW

DEC 18 | DETAINED HIKERS’ SIBLINGS: CHARGES ARE BASELESS—ABC GOOD MORNING AMERICA

DEC 18 | MOM OF US HIKER IN IRAN ASKS FOR 3 TO BE FREED—AP

DEC 18 | THREE AMERICAN HOSTAGES ARE IRAN’S ANSWER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA—WASHINGTON POST

DEC 17 | STRONG TURNOUT FOR HIKERS IN IRAN—THE LAGUNA BEACH INDEPENDENT