Iran Charges U.S. Hikers with Espionage

[Mr. Curious]

Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal, three U.S. hikers who accidentally crossed into Iran while hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan, were arrested back on July 31st, and they've now been officially charged with espionage.

“The investigation on the case of these three people continues,” Jafari-Dolatabadi said, adding that more comments will be made in the “not so distant future,” the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

Not surprisingly, the U.S. has called for their release. Here's a tip: DON'T GO HIKING ANYWHERE NEAR IRAQ OR IRAN.

And while we're on the subject, let's take a look at how Iran has treated some of their other "guests":

- In 2007, Iran seized and held 15 U.K. sailors and marines for two weeks.
- Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian reporter working for Newsweek, was allowed to fly to London on Oct. 20 after four months in jail.
- Iranian-U.S. scholar Kian Tajbakhsh was sentenced to 12 years in prison for participating in protests stemming from the sham re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
- Two Canadian reporters and one Japanese were held on Nov. 4 for “unauthorized reporting."
- Farhad Pouladi, an Iranian reporter for Agence France- Presse, was also detained in Tehran on Nov. 4. He was released on Nov. 7.
- Iran jailed a French and German citizen who had strayed into Iranian waters during a fishing trip. Sentenced to 18 months in jail, they were released after being granted clemency by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Looks like I may have to cancel my vacation to Tehran.

[Randy Ray]

I like your tip. Any good alternatives to hiking locations that you can recommend? I'm particularly fond of Oklahoma hiking locations, and I think the risks of being accused of espionage there are much lower.

[Mr. Curious]

Originally Posted by Randy Ray

I like your tip. Any good alternatives to hiking locations that you can recommend? I'm particularly fond of Oklahoma hiking locations, and I think the risks of being accused of espionage there are much lower.

I've heard that North Korea is lovely this time of year.