Families: 3 American hikers detained by Iran entered the country by mistake

September 30th, 2009 Vigils planned for captive hikers in IranBERKELEY, Calif. — Supporters marked the two months since three U.S.

September 30th, 2009 Vigils planned nationwide for hikers held in IranBERKELEY, Calif. — Supporters of three American hikers detained in Iran are planning vigils around the country to draw attention to their plight.

September 25th, 2009 US, Canada ask Iran to resolve humanitarian casesNEW YORK — The U.S. and Canada are making a joint plea to Iran to resolve several cases of Americans and Canadians detained or missing in Iran.

September 24th, 2009 Muslim groups hopeful on hikers' release from IranUNITED NATIONS — Leaders of U.S. Muslim groups who met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad say they are "guardedly optimistic" that three American hikers held there would be released soon.

September 23rd, 2009 Families hope to speak to US hikers held in IranMINNEAPOLIS — The families of three American hikers detained in Iran said Wednesday they were hopeful the three would be released and return home soon after Iran' president said he would ask the country's judiciary to be lenient in their case. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is in New York City to speak to the United Nations later Wednesday, said in an Associated Press interview on Tuesday that he would ask the country's judiciary to expedite the process and to "look at the case with maximum leniency." Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, have been held in Iran for 53 days after apparently straying into the country while hiking in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region in late July.

September 22nd, 2009 Iranian leader says he'll seek lenience for hikersNEW YORK — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (ah-muh-DEE'-neh-zhahd) says he will request lenience for three American hikers who strayed across Iran's borders. In an interview with The Associated Press, the Iranian leader says the Americans broke the law.

September 22nd, 2009 Family holds out hope for hikers detained in IranPHILADELPHIA — The brother of one of three American hikers detained in Iran says the family hopes President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (ah-muh-DEE'-neh-zhahd) brings the trio with him when he visits the United Nations. Ahmadinejad is addressing the General Assembly on Wednesday in New York.

August 20th, 2009 Kin speak out on US hikers missing in IranNEW YORK — Relatives of three American hikers being held in Iran continue to press their case that the backpackers never had any intention of going there. Hikers Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal and Sarah Shourd have been held since they entered Iran from Iraq without authorization on July 31.

August 20th, 2009 Families: US hikers detained in Iran are harmlessNEW YORK — Three American hikers detained in Iran are "totally harmless" travelers who carefully planned a trip in Iraq but apparently accidentally ended up crossing the border, their relatives said Thursday. Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal and Sarah Shourd have been held for three weeks, their exact whereabouts unknown.

August 11th, 2009 Statement from families of Americans held in IranStatement from the families of Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal regarding their detention in Iran: "It is now twelve days since our children were detained in Iran, when they strayed across the border while on a brief hiking vacation in Iraqi Kurdistan. As loving parents, nothing causes us more heartache than not knowing how our children are, and not being able to talk to them and learn when we will hold them in our arms again.

August 11th, 2009 Families: American hikers entered Iran by mistakePHILADELPHIA — Three American hikers detained in Iran for nearly two weeks entered the country by mistake and their families are hoping for a quick resolution that will reunite them with their children, the families said in a statement Tuesday. Joshua Fattal, freelance journalist Shane Bauer and Bauer's girlfriend, Sarah Shourd, were hiking near a waterfall on a mountain in Iraq's self-ruled Kurdish region on July 31 when they accidentally crossed the border into Iran, according to family members.

August 9th, 2009 White House: Iran confirms 3 US hikers in custodyWASHINGTON —The White House says Iran has confirmed it has three American hikers in custody. The Americans strayed into Iran while hiking in the mountains of Kurdish territory in neighboring Iraq.

August 7th, 2009 Friend: Detained hikers made regrettable mistakeSAN FRANCISCO — Shon Meckfessel says three of his friends being detained in Iran made a simple, regrettable mistake by crossing into that country while hiking in Iraq. In his first statement since his friends were detained last week, Meckfessel says his friends were preparing to turn around just before being captured.

August 2nd, 2009 Swiss diplomats ask Iran about 3 missing AmericansBERN, Switzerland — Swiss diplomats are trying to find out what happened to three American hikers reportedly captured in Iran, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran is working to learn more about the Americans' fate through its contacts with the Iranian Foreign Ministry, spokeswoman Nadine Olivieri said.

August 2nd, 2009 Swiss diplomats ask Iran about missing AmericansBERN, Switzerland — Swiss diplomats are trying to find out what happened to three Americans reportedly captured in Iran, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran is working to learn more about the Americans' fate through its contacts with the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said spokeswoman Nadine Olivieri.