Sarah Shourd: I Won't Return to Iran for Espionage Trial Due to PTSD, Advocates For Hikers' Freedom

DemocracyNow.org -
Months after her release from an Iranian prison, U.S. citizen Sarah Shourd tells Democracy Now! in a May 5 interview that she will not return to Tehran next week to face espionage charges. Shourd was jailed for 14 months after she and friends, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, were detained by Iranian forces on July 31, 2009, for allegedly hiking across the Iraqi border into Iran. The trial for Bauer—who is now Shourd's fiancé—and Fattal begins May 11. Shourd had planned to return to Iran, but has cancelled her trip because she is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

For the video/audio podcast, transcript, and for Democracy Now!'s news archive with additional reports about the imprisoned hikers, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/5/freed_us_hiker_sarah_shourd_wont

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• amy goodman
• democracy now
• juan gonzalez
• iran
• hikers
• sarah shourd
• espionage
• ptsd

[RevolutionNewsDotUS2]

Just imagine if the US border patrol found three arabs backpacking on the mexican border... they would be detained for life even if acqutted... and most likely tortured.

either these people were very stupid to be there or they are CIA.

Noticed you had mark potok on the show a few weeks ago... amazing how a democratic channel would have the SPLC on their show... a hate group who targets the likes of ron paul, the oathkeepers, and other pro constitution groups.

:(

[azageerf]

Shourd says in this interview that "none of "us" were invited to the trial"...Aheeeeem excuse me, YOU were indeed invited to the trial, by way of a summons! Snake eyes, 21 months without a trial? Excuse me, Iran tried 2 times for a trial, and as you were a no show bail skipper, not once but twice, they did indeed put off the trial 2 times and now maybe a third, as you will not go back to face this date. COWARD Stop this lie on your second sick card. That first lie comes back to bite you

[darknite888]

you guys wanna know why she isn't returning for court? cuz she knows she'll lose

[djbred18]

@RevolutionNewsDotUS2 Nine people thumbed up you eh? Because Nine people are the majority of thinkers. Let me know when you get 900. My commnet wasn't an arugument, but an observation. You're logic is flawed

[7beers]

I'd think that if I were within 500 miles of the Iranian border, I'd make damn sure I knew exactly where it was so there would be no chance of crossing it. No?

[7beers]

Interesting how the interviewer does not ask any follow-up questions about what her 14 months in an Iranian prison were like. No curiosity about how much food she received, medical treatment, whether she was beaten, or tortured, etc. etc. etc.

[The096757]

no one in ameica knows where these 3 jews got so much money to be hiking all over the middle east but we are supposed to be so concerned about them.

jews from norway were caught "hiking" in iran about 5-10 years ago. why are so many jews from all over the world getting caught "hiking" in iran?

these jew idiots think they can actually go anywhere on earth as "god's chosen people"

[The096757]

fuck this jewess infertile, breast cancer jew sow. this bitch should have been hung in iran just as the usa anf jews kill muslims in the middle east. who the fuck would blame muslims from covering up this ugly jew pig, cia wanna-be. plenty of pre war iraqis were educated in the usa and then murdered once they were found in iraq because they were threats to the jews in the usa.

[The096757]

@RevolutionNewsDotUS2

a few years ago norwegian jew hikers were caught in iran too. why do jews who hate iran so much always want to spy (AKA hike) in iran. 2 jews and a brittle infertile jewess were caught crossing into iran. they were treated so well compared to arabs and muslims who were accused oif spying in the usa.