OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The mother of a U.S. hiker detained in Iran has sent a videotaped appeal for her daughter's freedom to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei.
Norah Shourd of Oakland, Calif., told Khamenei her daughter, Sarah Shourd, 31, and her friends, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 27, did not intend to cross the border while hiking in the Kurdish area of Iraq, The Oakland Tribune reported Friday. Shourd said the three respect Iran's "ancient and noble civilization."
The videotape, subtitled in Farsi, was sent to the Iranian U.N. Mission, a Web site created by the families of the three hikers, freethehikers.org, said. It was accompanied by a petition signed by 6,000 people.
"Your excellency, this time of year is one of prayer and spiritual reflection for the faiths of the family of Abraham, each in their own way," Nora Shourd told Khamenei in the video. "It's a time of year when families come together. That human value unites us as children of God, who is merciful and compassionate."
The hikers have been behind bars since July 31. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said this week they will be tried for espionage.
