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Americans jailed in Iran may be freed
Source: Agencies |
September 18, 2011, Sunday
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THE defense lawyer for two Americans jailed in Iran moved ahead with bail arrangements yesterday, as international efforts intensified to seal a freedom-for-bail deal for the two men, convicted of spying.
Attorney Masoud Shafiei said he was in court, "following up the case" of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal. Shafiei said he hopes Iran's judiciary will clear the way for payment of US$1 million in exchange for the Americans' release.
Bauer and Fattal were detained along the Iran-Iraq border in July 2009 with their friend Sarah Shourd. She was released last September with mediation by Oman after US$500,000 was paid. They maintain their innocence.
The first word of the bail offer for Bauer and Fattal, who have been in jail for more than two years, came earlier this week from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He said the Americans could be freed in a matter of days. But Iran's powerful judiciary then responded that the bail provisions were still under review.
The mixed signals could reflect the bitter internal political feuds inside Iran between Ahmadinejad and the country's ruling clerics, who control the courts. Ahmadinejad and his allies are accused of trying to challenge the Islamic establishment.
Shafiei said two judges have to sign the bail papers before the Americans could be released.
By noon yesterday, the Iranian lawyer said one judge had already signed while the second one was expected to do so in a matter of hours.
The men, both 29, were sentenced last month to three years each for illegal entry into Iran and five years each for spying for the United States. They have denied the charges.
Attorney Masoud Shafiei said he was in court, "following up the case" of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal. Shafiei said he hopes Iran's judiciary will clear the way for payment of US$1 million in exchange for the Americans' release.
Bauer and Fattal were detained along the Iran-Iraq border in July 2009 with their friend Sarah Shourd. She was released last September with mediation by Oman after US$500,000 was paid. They maintain their innocence.
The first word of the bail offer for Bauer and Fattal, who have been in jail for more than two years, came earlier this week from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He said the Americans could be freed in a matter of days. But Iran's powerful judiciary then responded that the bail provisions were still under review.
The mixed signals could reflect the bitter internal political feuds inside Iran between Ahmadinejad and the country's ruling clerics, who control the courts. Ahmadinejad and his allies are accused of trying to challenge the Islamic establishment.
Shafiei said two judges have to sign the bail papers before the Americans could be released.
By noon yesterday, the Iranian lawyer said one judge had already signed while the second one was expected to do so in a matter of hours.
The men, both 29, were sentenced last month to three years each for illegal entry into Iran and five years each for spying for the United States. They have denied the charges.
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