Jill Burcum: Event for hikers

Last update: November 6, 2009 - 7:03 PM

In late September, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he'd request maximum leniency and expediency in handling the case of three American hikers detained by his nation since July. So far, his promise has meant nothing. Minnesota native and journalist Shane Bauer, his girlfriend Sarah Shourd and their friend Josh Fattal remained imprisoned in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran.

Vigils and fundraisers will be held in 20 locations around the world -- including St. Paul -- on Sunday to mark three American hikers' 100th day in Iranian detention. Bauer, 27, Shourd, 31, and Fattal, 27, were hiking in a Kurdish area of northeast Iraq in July when they apparently crossed the unmarked Iranian border and were taken into custody. The hikers have been able to send messages to their families. A message from each hiker will be read at Sunday's events.

"It's really important to let Shane, Sarah and Josh know that so many people around the world care about them and want them released as soon as possible," Alex Fattal, who is Josh Fattal's brother and a spokesman for the families.

O'Gara's Bar and Grill, 164 Snelling Av. N, is the site of Sunday's event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5; there's also a silent auction.

Friends and families have posted new videos of the trio taken two days before the ill-fated hike. The videos show the hikers' goofy sides as they explored an area of Iraq considered relatively safe for tourists. The videos further undercut Iranians' suspicions that the three are American spies. They were out for a hike and made a simple mistake for which they are paying a terrible mistake. It's time for them to come home. To see the videos and sign a petition to help them, go to freethehikers.org

JILL BURCUM

Recent Commentary stories

L.A. Times: Italy gets it right - November 6, 2009

L.A. Times: Italy gets it right - "Extrajudicial detentions" and "extraordinary renditions" were nicely scrubbed terms for the Bush administration's policy of capturing suspects in one country and spiriting them away to another, where they were harshly interrogated and even tortured. Now an Italian court has called this CIA practice by its real name -- illegal. More

Stephen R. Bergerson: Copyright, not greed, behind AP lawsuit - November 6, 2009

Stephen R. Bergerson: Copyright, not greed, behind AP lawsuit - The case comes to this: Creators deserve control over their work. More

Comment on this story | Read all 2 comments | Hide reader comments

New ideas for the public sector

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to create a more efficient Minnesota. Facing large budget deficits at the state, county and local levels, Minnesotans are seeing with new clarity that the public sector must adapt to new economic realities. Only the smartest, most strategic reinvention will ensure that our tax dollars are spent on the best programs and services. Read more

About Opinion Exchange

Opinion Exchange is produced by the Editorial Department, which is dedicated to hosting the discussion on a range of issues of interest to Star Tribune readers online and in print. In its new format, it's our hope that Opinion Exhange will create a more dynamic dialogue between Star Tribune readers and the Editorial Board. Many individual posts will be written and signed by members of the Editorial Board and will reflect their own opinions. Daily editorials will continue to represent the institutional voice of the newspaper and be researched and written by the Editorial Department, which is independent of the newsroom.

Subscribe to RSS|Learn more about RSS