5 things you can do to help free the hikers

Thanks so much for this, Julie. I’ve been following this and hoping that we will not just forget and move on. I am incredulous that they are still detained. Her mother’s video is so humble, respectful, and sincere — I hope it gets through in some way.

We can also write to the head of the Iranian Judiciary, our own government, even the hikers:

Free the Hikers
PO Box 10565
Duluth, MN 55815

I know the family also has “Free the Hikers” sweat shirts to raise awareness and funds for the cause.

Now let’s all make some videos — it’s an incredible idea!

I had no idea about Shroud and the other hikers. Thanks for letting us know about this, Julie, and how to get involved.

thank you for keeping this at our attention. I am making my video response in the next 48 hours…

I think about these three every day. It saddens me that negotiating their release is not a priority for our government.

Hello,
Some time i think government don#t know or realise the pain of leaving or not hving you love ones and also i simply can’t think that what benifit or inforamtion Iranian govt. getting from her they simply want to give pain…..

I plan to help spread the word. Hope my efforts will help!

It is noble what you’re doing for the hikers, but it is vain, the Iranians only keep them because the U.S kidnapped (or detained, depends what side your own) 4 Iranians in Iraq for up to 2 years, without access to lawyers, or family. So, you can expect the Iranians to hold these people for at least the same amount of time, without access to their families. It is a tit-for-tat situation, which the American authorities know, and understand very well. That’s why they don’t really say, or do anything on behalf the hikers, because they know it’s just a game with the Iranians.

Another option in prisoner exchange, but I doubt Washington considers these hikers important enough to do that.

So, it’s just a waiting game. Don’t worry about them TOO much, they are probably comfortable, and reading a lot, and learning Farsi. The Iranians are very hospitable, even to foreign prisoners.

[...] is exactly the way the travel community reacts. If something should happen to any one of us (like Matador contributor Sarah Shourd, who is currently being detained in Iran), we would honor that person because they are one of [...]

[...] Her trip gave her plenty of writing material–so much so that she spent the period following her return from the trip writing a memoir about it. Her memoir finished, she’s now looking to pick up where she left off as a journalist. You can read more about her in this interview or on her blog. And don’t forget Matador contributor Sarah Shourd, one of the three Americans detained in Iran. Learn more about how you can help the effort to free Shourd and her friends in “5 Things You Can Do to Help Free the Hikers.” [...]

I feel for these families. I hope that their loved ones eventually are released. I must say though…I’m all for adventure, but what in the hell were they doing in Iraq near Iran? I mean, really. With all the places on earth you can go…why were they even near this place? I have much respect for adventurous people. However, some people think the world is their playground, they’re ready to venture anywhere, and it’s just not worth their lives, or the hurt it causes loved ones, when things like this happen. This is not the governments fault, and they can not make the Iranians release these people, who probably should have chosen a different vacation destination.

Just because the Iranian people are hospitable does not mean its government officials and prisons are. I have family members and friends in Evin, and have read countless accounts of prisoners (now released) that tell of the torture, physical and psychological, and hell of solitary confinement that is something you cannot call “comfterable.” So before you blur the line between the Iranian’s hospitality and the regime’s tyranny in the same place, read the testimonies of Roxana Saberi, Maziar Bahari and Andreas Moser (all citizens of a country besides Iran).

Why on Earth did the mother cover her head?

I think the mother was right to cover her head. It is all very well for us to watch the video and sympathize but the best way to make progress is for the Iranians to consider this video. The mother looks properly considerate and respectful of their culture. If she appeared anything less, why would her daughter be thought of any differently?

As Shahrzad mentioned, I was imprisoned in Evin in June 2009. Even though I was very lucky to be released after just one week, it was quite tough. And I had to discover that one week was enough to have a huge impact on one’s personality. Unfortunately, such an experience doesn’t leave you just when you walk out of the prison.

i watch oprha i was atracted by this story i really hope that the boys get home again, i m just 15 years pld so i can´t do alot of things 2 help but i promis u 2 tell your story 2 every one d i´m go in 2 ask god for help d i´m shore that things will change just keep the faith