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basically, everything all of you posted is incorrect. They were not in a war zone.
Also, they are not being held for crossing the border. they are being held for ESPIONAGE! So, its not the responsibility of our country to get them out?
On July 31, 2009, three Americans, Sarah Shourd (31), Shane Bauer (27) and Joshua Fattal (27), were detained by Iranian border guards whilst hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iran claims the three crossed into Iranian territory,[1] but the three Americans claim they were kidnapped from within Iraq.[2]
Sarah Shourd was released by Iran on September 14, 2010.[3]
In June 2010, an article in The Nation alleged that two villagers said the hikers were accosted by Iranian authorities while they were on the Iraqi side of the border.[2]
The three, anti-war, social justice and Palestinian solidarity activists,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] had been living and active in the Middle East, and were on holiday in Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region of Iraq free from the sectarian struggle that dominates much of Iraq[13][14][15]. They had been advised of the suitability of the region for a holiday by friends who had been there and through Internet research; and were recommended the Ahmed Awa waterfall, a popular Kurdish tourist destination, by a number of local people whilst they were in Sulaymaniyah.[15] After visiting the waterfall, they continued walking within what they believed to be Iraqi Kurdistan, up to and including the time they were detained by Iranian border guards.[16]
According to the BBC, they were not "publicly charged" with a crime by Iran;[17] but according to the New York Times, they have been held on espionage charges since their arrest.[18]
Their companion, Shon Meckfessel, was not detained, as he stayed behind at the Hotel Miwan in Sulaymaniyah because of a cold. He had intended to join them the following day.
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