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Reports: Iran Postpones US Hikers' Trial

   VOA News  May 11, 2011
   American hikers Shane Bauer (L) and Josh Fattal and their translator
   attend the first session of their trial in Tehran (File)

Photo: Reuters

   American hikers Shane Bauer (L) and Josh Fattal and their translator
   attend the first session of their trial in Tehran (File)

   The trial for two U.S. hikers detained in Iran that was set to resume
   on Wednesday has been postponed.
   Swiss embassy officials say the proceeding has been delayed until an
   unspecified date because the two hikers were not transferred from
   prison to the courtroom. The Swiss embassy represents U.S. interests in
   Iran.
   Hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been imprisoned in the country
   for more than 21 months on charges of spying. Iran has accused the two
   men and a third hiker of unlawfully crossing into Iran from Iraq in
   2009. Tehran released the third hiker, Sarah Shourd, on bail in
   September.
   The trial of Bauer, Fattal and Shourd began in February. Shourd pleaded
   not guilty in absentia, and Bauer and Fattal also entered not guilty
   pleas.
   On Tuesday, the mothers of Bauer and Fattal told VOA Persian News
   Network they expect their sons to be found innocent of the charges and
   allowed to go home.
   Bauer's mom, Cindy Hickey, said other foreigners imprisoned in Iran
   have been released in a much shorter time span. She said the length of
   time the hikers have been in custody has taken a "devastating toll" on
   the families.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

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