Posted on Fri, Oct. 9, 2009
Pressing the effort to win freedom for three detained American hikers, including Cheltenham High School graduate Joshua Fattal, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter yesterday sought the "active assistance" of Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations.
Fattal, 27, and his friends Shane Bauer, 27, and Sarah Shourd, 31, were arrested July 31 by border guards after they strayed into Iran while hiking in a peaceful part of Kurdish-controlled northeastern Iraq.
The three have had no contact with their families. Only recently did Iran allow them to be seen by an envoy of Switzerland, which represents U.S. interests in Tehran. The United States has not had direct diplomatic relations with Iran since 1979.
In his letter to Iran's mission in New York City, he reminded the ambassador, Mohammad Khazaee, that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently said he would seek "maximum leniency" for the hikers before Iran's judiciary, although it was unclear if or when they would face the court. Efforts to reach Khazaee late yesterday were unsuccessful.
Despite international concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Specter (D., Pa.), in an interview, said he hoped President Obama's desire for constructive engagement could "set the stage for a humanitarian gesture on Iran's part."
Speaking for the Fattal family, of Elkins Park, his brother Alex said "we are very grateful" for the assistance of Specter and other officials. The family was "encouraged" when Joshua Fattal and his friends were seen by the envoy on Sept. 29, "but it has now been 10 weeks" since the arrest, he said, "and we hope that the Iranian authorities will resolve this matter quickly."
Contact staff writer Michael Matza at 215-854-2541 or mmatza@phillynews.com.
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