Members Of Congress Advocate For American Hikers' Release From Iran: Concurrent Resolution Requests Consular Access By Switzerland, Opportunity For Americans To Phone Their Families
Press Release
Members Of Congress Advocate For American Hikers' Release From Iran: Concurrent Resolution Requests Consular Access By Switzerland, Opportunity For Americans To Phone Their Families
On Tuesday, Senators Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Barbara Boxer (D-Ca.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) introduced a concurrent resolution (S.Con. Res 40) encouraging the Government of Iran to grant consular access by the Government of Switzerland to the three American citizens that have been held in Iran since July 31, 2009 when they were detained after reportedly crossing into Iranian territory while hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The resolution also encourages the Government of Iran to allow the three young people to communicate by telephone with their families in the United States. An identical resolution was introduced in the House by Representatives Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) and Maurice Hinchey (D-NY).
"Iran's detention of these U.S. citizens without granting them access to their families is a human rights violation," said Congresswoman Schwartz. "I appeal to the people of Iran to urge their leaders to let these young people go so that they can be reunited with their loved ones."
"Based on news accounts I have read, I have every confidence that the three entered Iranian territory accidentally, perhaps due to, as I understand it, the absence of clear markers in the region near Ahmed Awa," Senator Specter said. "It is my sincere hope that the Government of Iran quickly comes to this conclusion and releases them so they can be reunited with their families in the United States at the earliest opportunity, as all have anguished too much already."
"I am convinced that these young individuals have not done anything wrong other than perhaps getting lost on a hike," said Senator Casey. "The Iranian government has had more than enough time to determine their innocence and I call for their release. I hope that at a minimum, Josh, Sarah and Shane will be given immediate access to doctors, Swiss diplomats and the opportunity to communicate with their families."
"The young hikers should have been released a long time ago," said Sen. Bill Nelson, who has also been pressing the Iranians for information on Bob Levinson, a Floridian who disappeared there in 2007. "It's time for the Iranians to do the right thing and let these kids go."
"These young American hikers simply made a mistake," said Senator Klobuchar. "I will continue to press for their release through the State Department and the United Nations. This injustice must end and these Americans must be allowed to return home."
"I've been in close contact with the family of the Minnesotan hiker for weeks now, and I cannot begin to imagine what they're going through," Senator Franken said. "Today we're encouraging the Iranian government to release the three hikers, and in the meantime, allow these young people to communicate with their parents."
Senator Boxer: "These three young Americans should be immediately released on humanitarian grounds. By all accounts, they made a simple mistake and crossed into Iran inadvertently. I hope they will be reunited with their families very soon."
Text of the Concurrent Resolution follows:
Encouraging the Government of Iran to grant consular access by the Government of Switzerland to Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd, and to allow the 3 young people to reunite with their families in the United States as soon as possible.
Whereas, on July 31, 2009, officials of the Government of Iran took 3 United States citizens, Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd, into custody near the Ahmed Awa region of northern Iraq, after the 3 United States citizens reportedly crossed into the territory of Iran while hiking in Iraq;
Whereas officials of the Government of Iran have confirmed that they are holding the 3 United States citizens; and
Whereas officials of the Government of Iran have not allowed consular access by the Embassy of the Government of Switzerland (in its formal capacity as the representative of the interests of the United States in Iran) to the 3 young United States citizens in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress --
(1) Encourages the Government of Iran to grant consular access by the Government of Switzerland to Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd, and to allow the 3 young people to communicate by telephone with their families in the United States; and
(2) Encourages the Government of Iran to allow Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd to reunite with their families in the United States as soon as possible.
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