IRAN SAID yesterday it would free one of the three US hikers it has held as spies for more than a year on bail of $500,000 (€393,000).
The fate of her friends remains unclear, however, amid controversy in Tehran.
Sarah Shourd (31) has been in prison with Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal (both 28) since they apparently strayed over the border from Iraqi Kurdistan in July 2009. The three are pawns in a tense diplomatic standoff between the US and Iran, and have apparently fallen victim to internal political rivalry in the Islamic republic.
Massoud Shafei, their lawyer, said he had informed Ms Shourd’s family and the Swiss embassy – which looks after US interests in Iran – of the amount set for bail “so they can take the necessary measures”. Mr Shafei hoped Ms Shourd would be released in the next two or three days.
Friends of Ms Shourd’s mother, Nora, said she would issue a statement later. The US said it was “encouraged” by news of Iran’s readiness to free her.
Iran announced on Friday that Ms Shourd would be released on Saturday as a humanitarian gesture to mark Eid al-Fitr – the holiday at the end of Ramadan – but excitement quickly gave way to confusion in the wake of conflicting statements from Tehran.
Tehran prosecutor Abbas Ja’fari-Dowlatabadi told a press conference yesterday Ms Shourd would be freed on health grounds, but criticised the initial announcement of her release, saying it had been made while the judiciary was still working on the case.
“Their case is almost complete and the judge has issued an indictment,” he said, adding that the two men are to remain in custody. “The suspects have not confessed, but we have enough evidence to prove their spying charges.”
Ms Shourd is suffering from a pre-cancerous condition and depression, attributed by her family and supporters to the fact that she is being held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison, and is allowed to meet her friends only once a day.
Iranian prisoners are often asked to post huge amounts of money to be released on bail, but for a foreigner payment would effectively mean buying freedom.
Clotilde Reiss, a Frenchwoman arrested during post-election unrest last year and also held on spying charges, was allowed to leave the country after her jail sentences were commuted to a fine of around €224,000.
Iranian officials have accused the three of espionage – flatly denied by the hikers – but they have never been charged.
It had been hoped they might be freed in exchange for Shahram Amiri, an Iranian scientist who defected or was abducted by the CIA and was allowed to leave the US for Iran in July.
Friday’s first announcement of Ms Shourd’s release was made by the ministry of Islamic guidance, confirmed by the foreign ministry and attributed to the involvement of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – all strongly suggesting that he is backing the move.
Mr Ahmadinejad is due in New York at the end of the week to address the UN General Assembly, where he is certain to tackle the issue of the sanctions imposed on Iran because of its nuclear programme. – ( Guardianservice)