Watch the Families’ Videos to the Hikers
It's been more than four months now since 27-year-old Shane Bauer, 31-year-old Sarah Shourd, and 27-year-old Joshua Fattal, all UC Berkeley grads, were detained while hiking in the hills that separate Iraq from Iran.
Earlier this month, the trio was officially charged with spying by Tehran prosecutors.
The mothers of the three hikers have yet to speak to them, even after repeated pleas to the Iranian government for a little bit of compassion.
They have now released another video intended for their kids...this one containing a thanksgiving message of hope.
"We want to see them now. We want to see them yesterday," said Shourd. "It's enough punishment to be detained this long in prison."
Some say that Iran is using the detainees as a political bargaining chip.
News of the accusations drew a quick rebuke from the White House and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever," Clinton told reporters in Berlin. "And we would renew our request on behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them so they can return home."
She said the United States would press its case for their release through the Swiss government, which represents American interests in Tehran. The United States severed diplomatic ties with Iran after the 1979 takeover of its embassy in Tehran.
It was unclear whether the prosecutors had taken formal legal action against the hikers or were leveling accusations for public consumption. The Persian word used by the prosecutor who discussed the case can mean either "charged" or "accused" in English.
Nevertheless, the prospect of Americans on trial in Iran could further strain U.S.-Iranian relations at a time when the countries are engaged in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, and it raises questions about whether Iran will try to use the Americans as a bargaining chip in those talks.
Statements from family members and Kurdish authorities have said the travelers crossed from Turkey into Kurdistan, where they stayed at a hostel and camped as they headed toward Ahmed Awa, a resort area of caves and waterfalls on the border.
Family members have said the three were visited by Swiss diplomats and were reported to be in good physical shape.
(MGO)
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SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS/AP) -- The families of three hikers, arrested over the summer while hiking in Iran, are not giving up hope. They've created a new video message to go along with another plea to the Iranian government for compassion. 
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