Iran announces trial of captured American hikers

The Laguna Beach family of one of the three Americans detained in Iran for straying over the border from Iraq learned this week that the trio face charges of espionage.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad announced Monday that the three had broken his country’s law and would have to convince a judge they were innocent of spying. Iranian officials reportedly said the investigation was ongoing and the status of the hikers would be announced “in the not-too-distant future.”

Laguna residents Susy and Michael Patrick Sandys and their son, Patrick, are trying to stay positive about the fate of family member Sarah Shourd.

“Dear Friends, many of you have heard in the news today about the allegations of espionage,” Susy Sandys said in a statement issued Tuesday. “Please do not respond to media requests regarding this development at this time. More news to come soon. Thanks.”

The family is working on a fundraiser for Thanksgiving week with a local restaurant. Plans will be announced. A joint statement was also issued by the families of all three of the detained Americans.

“The families of Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal issued the following statement today [Nov. 9] in response to the latest reports from Tehran regarding their detention.

“The allegation that our loved ones may have been engaged in espionage is untrue...Shane, Sarah and Josh have now been held for more than 100 days simply because they apparently strayed into Iran by accident while hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan.

“We again call on Iran to show compassion to our loved ones and release them without delay. This has already gone on for too long.”

Michael Patrick Sandys is the brother of Shourd’s mother, Nora. The family has lived in Laguna Beach for 21 years.

Shourd, a frequent visitor to Laguna, was described by her cousin Patrick as having the gift of reaching out to people at their level. She was in Iraq to teach English to Syrian students to learn Arabic.

The families learned of the detention from a friend of the trio’s friends who did not feel up to the hike and stayed behind.

He received a phone call saying the hikers were surrounded and to call the U.S. Embassy.

There was no further word for 51 days.

The United States does not maintain an embassy in Iran, but messages were relayed this month through the Swiss Embassy, which represents U.S. interests.

Vigils were held Sunday, the 100th day of the hikers’ detention.

For more information, visit www.freethehikers.org. To contact the families, e-mail [email protected].