Freed hikers recount their experiences in Iran

American hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, imprisoned in Iran for more than two years, recounted their experiences in captivity. They were taken captive after illegally walking across the Iran-Iraq border, and accused of spying for their country in spite of their protests that they had gotten lost. A third hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released in 2010. Bauer proposed to Shourd while in captivity, and the two are now engaged.

In a news conference following their arrival on American soil, Bauer and Fattal described their experience, including their “total sham” of a trial. They are happy to be released, but expressed their disappointment at the numerous other innocents and political prisoners held by the Iranian government, some imprisoned simply for attending a protest or writing a pro-democracy blog.