Tehran frees two Americans accused of espionage ahead of UN General Assembly
Arrested in 2009, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were supposed to purge eight years in prison. They were released on a US$ 500,000 bail each. The confrontation between clerics and Ahmadinejad continues.
Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Iran released on bail Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the two American hikers arrested in 2009 on espionage charges. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 29, were flown to Oman after being freed yesterday before leaving for the United States. For experts, their release is a move by Iranian authorities to clean up its image before the opening tomorrow of the 66th General Assembly. Sarah Shourd, who was arrested with the two men, was released last year, also ahead of the General Assembly.
The three Americans had strayed across the border during a hiking expedition in Iraqi Kurdistan. Stopped by Iranian soldiers, they were charged with espionage and illegal entry.
In September 2010, Ms Shourd’s release raised hopes that Bauer and Fattal would follow. However, they were brought to trial and sentenced to eight years in prison.
The release of the two American hikers highlights the ongoing power struggle between Iran’s religious authorities and the Iranian President, Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
Earlier this month, Ahmadinejad said they could be released within days, but then came the voice of hard-line ruling clerics, who halted the proceeding and accused the president of abuse of power.
After the face-off, Iranian authorities yesterday signed the release papers after a payment of a US$ 1 million.
For his part, Ahmadinejad has accused the clerics of betraying the ideals of Khomeini’s revolution, of corruption and making money on the backs of the poor.
The conflict has driven a wedge between the forces that support Iran’s Islamic regime. Fearing collapse, the latter has intensified its crackdown against dissidents in order to avoid pro-democracy protests like those of 2009 in which hundreds were killed.
The three Americans had strayed across the border during a hiking expedition in Iraqi Kurdistan. Stopped by Iranian soldiers, they were charged with espionage and illegal entry.
In September 2010, Ms Shourd’s release raised hopes that Bauer and Fattal would follow. However, they were brought to trial and sentenced to eight years in prison.
The release of the two American hikers highlights the ongoing power struggle between Iran’s religious authorities and the Iranian President, Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
Earlier this month, Ahmadinejad said they could be released within days, but then came the voice of hard-line ruling clerics, who halted the proceeding and accused the president of abuse of power.
After the face-off, Iranian authorities yesterday signed the release papers after a payment of a US$ 1 million.
For his part, Ahmadinejad has accused the clerics of betraying the ideals of Khomeini’s revolution, of corruption and making money on the backs of the poor.
The conflict has driven a wedge between the forces that support Iran’s Islamic regime. Fearing collapse, the latter has intensified its crackdown against dissidents in order to avoid pro-democracy protests like those of 2009 in which hundreds were killed.
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