American hiker charged with spying by Iran will not return to face trial

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

An American woman released from prison in Iran has said she will not return there to stand trial alongside two fellow hikers charged with spying for the US.

Sarah Shourd said she has post-traumatic stress disorder and going back to Iran would be "far too traumatic after what I've already been through".

The three Americans deny illegally entering the country and espionage, a charge that can carry the death penalty. They said they were on an innocent hiking trip during a vacation in Kurdistan, in the north of Iraq, when they were arrested by Iranian soldiers on 31 July 2009.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/04/american-hiker-iran-no-return

[AmericaIsGreat]

1. A vacation in Kurdistan

Hmm, yeah, about that...

Anyway, scary how paranoid Iran is. A fucking 5 year old could figure out these people aren't spies.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. Will Iran seek extradition?

Just to stir things up a bit?

I'm not sure "post-traumatic stress" would be a valid defense in U.S. courts.

:hi:

(Given a choice, I also would not volunteer to go to Iran to stand trial. Even for a parking ticket)

[Blue_Tires]

3. I still don't know how one "accidentally" hikes into Iran

much less why anyone goes to Iraq for sightseeing...

[snooper2]

4. Top Gear did

[Lance_Boyle]

5. That's going to make life much more difficult for the 2 guys still held.

Hope she enjoys the get-out-of-jail-free card those guys will pay for with (at least years of) their lives.