Iran Hikers Thank CAIR for Seeking Their Release

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the American citizens recently freed after being jailed for more than two years in Iran, met last week with the head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and expressed their appreciation for CAIR's efforts to obtain their release.

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad -- who met with the men and members of their families at the office of Search for Common Ground in Washington, D.C., last Wednesday -- was part of a delegation of American Muslim and Christian leaders that traveled to Iran in September to foster theological dialogue and to seek the release of the hikers.

Delegation members included Awad and CAIR Board Chairman former State Senator Larry Shaw (NC), as well as Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Washington, and The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane, Episcopal Bishop of Washington and Interim Dean of Washington National Cathedral.

Cardinal McCarrick and Bishop Chane also took part in Wednesday's meeting.

PHOTO: CAIR Director Meets with Freed Iran Hikers
http://www.cair.com/images/6074.jpg

[CAPTION L to R: Jim Hickey, Katherine Bova, Cindy Hickey, Nihad Awad, Laura Fattal, Jacob Fattal, Alex Fattal, Bishop John Bryson Chane, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, John Marks, Susan Collin Marks, Rabbi David Saperstein]

CAIR: The People Behind the Imprisoned Hikers' Release
http://tinyurl.com/3ehz8t2

The delegation went to Iran at the invitation of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. During their trip to Iran, the interfaith delegation also met with family members of Iranians held in the United States.

CAIR representatives met with President Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials about the issue of the detained hikers several times over the past two years.

Other American Muslim organizations, including the Islamic Society of North America, the Islamic Circle of North America and MAS Freedom, appealed for the hikers' release.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

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