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© Beck Diefenbach / Reuters / Reuters
Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal (R) speak about their experiences during an Occupy the Prisons protest at San Quentin Prison, California, February 20.
SAN FRANCISCO - Two of the three American hikers jailed in Iran after allegedly straying over the Iraq-Iran border in 2009 were to be married on Saturday in a private ceremony in California, according to a statement posted on their Facebook page.
The wedding of Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd completes an engagement that began when Bauer tied a ring of thread around her finger while they were in prison in 2010.
"Now that this day has come, all I can do is close my eyes and fill with gratitude, for our freedom, for the love of so many generous people around the world, and for the very soil under my feet," Shourd said in the statement posted on the Free the Hikers Facebook page.
The third hiker, Josh Fattal, was to be the best man, the statement said.
Read the story at NBC Bay Area
The statement did not say exactly where in California the wedding was to take place, only that it was a setting "chosen for its pastoral beauty."
"Becoming engaged to Sarah while we were in captivity allowed me to dream of a future that was not only secure, but also beautiful," Bauer said in the statement.
Bauer, Shourd and Fattal were arrested on July 2009 by Iranian border guards, who allege that the three crossed over into Iran from the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
Shourd was released 14 months later on humanitarian grounds but Bauer and Fattal were convicted of illegal entry and espionage.
The men spent the first three months of their detention in solitary confinement before they were put in an 8 foot by 13 foot cell together. They spent their time reading and testing each other on various topics and were allowed a short time in an outside room to exercise daily.
During 781 days in jail, they had 15 minutes of phone calls with their families and one short visit from their mothers, Fattal said. They staged repeated hunger strikes over demands they be given letters sent by their families, he said.
Fattal and Bauer were freed last September after Oman paid bail of $1 million. Shourd was released on $500,000 bail a year earlier.
Since her release, Shourd has written about the psychological effects of solitary confinement, and argued against its use in the United States.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Congrats!
Three spoiled rich kids who were dumb enough to think they could hike in a war zone where they had no business being to begin with, and wonder why they wound up in an Iranian jail! After a while we got bored to death being reminded of their of their stupidity by the media. Worst of all, the U.S. taxpayers ultimately paid for their release. They want to get married? Fine, all the best and such, but just don't bother us with it. They can fade into obscurity making lots of money on book deals and letting us forget about them.
ED-NawDoc I Agree!
They should pay the American Tax Payer beginning with their first book royalty check. That would be a good start. But they won't because of their narcissistic upbringing. U remember the upbringing - a trophy for 8th place, chanting "everyone is a winner" instead of the Pledge of Allegiance, playing dodge ball without the ball, etc. The feel good liberal experiment has begun. I can't wait to see these kids explode in the workplace. They never were taught to compete. That's a bad word on the left.
In fact the majority of the people their age and younger are known as the "Me Generation".
I couldn't agree more, flash and ED. Of course another possibility is these three worked for the CIA at the time. People do not just stray into Iran. Especially supposedly intelligent people.
I wish we could get money from them for their stupidity.
Who really cares about this story? 3 idiots go hiking in foriegn country, cost us money with all the diplomacy that was gone through, and of course now are becoming activists against how WE treat criminals. The best these three can do for everyone is to just shut up. It is all most too bad they were ever released.
I would be happy to contribute to their honeymoon if we buy them plane tickets back to Iran and convince Iran to keep them for good.
How is this news or of any interest? They deserve each other for being most ignorant!!! Too bad that this type of losers is in the gene pool.
Wow! This is great, I hope they are very happy together for many years. I also hope that they can pool their money and buy a GPS system, if they didn't receive one as a wedding gift, so they can always keep track of their position on their hikes in distant lands!!
Congrats! The 2 hipster dudes look very happy together =)
Awwww, cute.
This is what is wrong with our country are people, idiots who hate seeing happiness, romance and joy happen under duress. God willing the evil corrupt mind that has infected this nation be cleansed.
To the newly weds God Bless, and even under duress love can be born. Your wedding is inspiring, and may you love long into the future.
No, people who work for the CIA do not stray over the border into Iran having previously written for pro-Palestinian causes, nor do they show up as the guest speakers at an "Occupy the Prisons" protest. Berkeley grads without a shred of loyalty to the United States and who feel entitled enough to have Uncle Sam waste valuable resources to get them out wander into Iran. It's amazing how they expected to be saved by this country, yet they immediately went off to protest and spit on it again.
Yep. 'Cause Lord knows, you'ld have to scour the world to find anyone near as stupid as these insufferable twits. If they didn't have eachother, they wouldn't have enough gray matter combined to wipe their own arses. They are such demonstrable idiots that they should be in protective custody. Should have left them in the cesspit they were so interested in seeing.
The Three Stooges!!! Dumb, dumber, and Dumbest!!
Occupy Prisons? Now that is a novel idea for the Occupy Movement.
I have never read such puerile, vile hatred. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You wouldn't be spouting this disgusting tripe if it was someone you loved stuck in solitary in Iran. As for stupidity, from the sounds of your mindless idiocy I guarantee any one of these 3 people would out do any of you on a standard IQ test by a solid 80 points.
You want to see stupid? Look in the mirror.
Hoodie, what a great name (eye roll). What does IQ have to do with the discussion? We have "bright" people screwing our country over on a daily basis. If we withheld all of the Stanford-Binet tests and all of the summa cum laude diplomas from twits like this we could have probably saved hundreds of the trees they hug so tightly.
Hoodie, people I know and love would not be stupid enough to do what those three morons did! And if by some chance they did, I would tell them they deserve it and let them suffer the consequences of their actions.
I don't think they should be allowed to have children.
Your statement says you are an advisor to God, since you have judged a couple to not be allowed children, should you be allowed children?
these people were just plain stupid...who does this kind of thing anyway??? only those that are really strange and warped would travel there.. and hike around like its a safe place...
come on... then 1.5 miliion to get them out of there... and disrespecting the US all the way
they should move to Iran permenantly and see how good the US truly is
For their honeymoon why not hike in Afganistan.
I don't think you should be allowed to have children and if you already do,I think they ought to be sent to Iran for a few years, then maybe you'd learn something about compassion and empathy...oh never mind, your idiocy betrays your ability to think, reason or emote. GTH.
............GOD!.........I hope those two morons don't have any kids. I hear that their next "hiking trip" will be in Syria or Yemen....
I hear you.
HAA!! I said the SAME THING!!! And while they're at it they should express gratitude to the Iranian government for releasing them at all....they had NO business there, ignorance is NO excuse, and it's about time for Americans to learn we don't own the world and everything in it...or dictate how to run it. Thanks Iran for releasing them, but you should have sterilized them first.
Iran figured out how stupid they were and didn't want them anymore. Iran probably figured these losers do more damage to America. anyways.
wonder who will figure out your ignorance, and while you are out condemning children born to any couple, look at your children before you condemn others. God Bless.
Get a grip DICK.
Who's "condemning" children butt plug. Nothing in my statement condemns kids. The statement derides the idiots who decided to go hiking in the border region of Iran and were captured. Their parents and friends probably weren't worried to death while those idiots sat in an Iranian prison wondering if they were going to see the light of the next day. You must be one of their supporters. I hope you don't have any kids either and if you do I hope you seek help for them or maybe just give them up for adoption.....God Bless....DICK.
Oh great,
Now these two liberal idiots might contaminate the gene pool!
with your comment, u already have
RAWR! Everything I see somehow becomes a clearly defined battle between Left and Right! RAWR!
Please, just go away. They were three dumb people that had reality catch up to them. Judging by your rabid, politically obsessed ramblings, I'm guessing you slept in the day they went hiking and missed the bus.
Live long and prosper to the end of your days...
As dumb as these people are I doubt they will have long lives.
Just sayin'.
Mike Fillmore- why you so negative? Is happiness of other folkks indicative of your unhappiness?
May God Bless you and the Newlyweds.
Richard Small (otherwise known as Small, Dick), lighten up.
Everyone has their own take and are entitled to it. I was disappointed in the story, in the fact that they were protesting at a prison. Maybe they should do some time in Folsom so they know from whence they speak. Oh, and make it in the box (solitary). "We have a failure to communicate!". . . . Cool Hand Luke.
Where is the Honeymoon? Tora Bora?
Somalia.
Nah, it's got to be at a luxurious 5 star hotel in beautiful downtown Pyongyang!
I'll nominate Richmond, CA anytime after sunset...
I think a return trip to Iran would be in order. No need for a round trip ticket.
They're currently planning their honeymoon for a lovely, scenic area of the North Korean border with China. There's lots of trees, grassland, and plenty of random, spontaneous events. Nothing could ever go wrong with that. Best wishes!
Why is any coverage given these scofflaws! Why does anyone care?
MSNBC is scraping the bottom of the barrel for news today. WHO CARES IF THEY GET MARRIED.
Honeymoon...hike on the DMZ in Korea!
I hear the Afghan/ Pakistani border is a great Honeymoon value this time of year...
Most of the people commenting here seem like the type who would kick someone while they're down.
I wish them a lifetime of happiness together and am glad their mistake didn't cost them their lives. Enjoy your life together!
Not at all redmoth. I'll kick them while they are up too! Let's not forget the fact that they ignored State Department warnings and went there anyway. They brought all this on themselves to begin with!
No, people are just sick of people who have no personal responsibility...It was foolish & stupid to do what they did.. . You mean there was no other place in the "safe" world for them to hike? At what cost to the American taxpayer were they released? all I hear is me me me me me me me...I was divorced & raised 2 daughters on my own. ( and worked full time) .Before they were even able to understand what I meant, I always told them #1) The world does not revolve around you...#2) whatever you want to be when you grow up, you can be. All I want is that you make a contribution to the world...If more parents RAISED (not just birthed) their children with some morals & values, I think the world would be a much better place.
The reason they don't like solitary confinement is they actually had to think about the dumb crap they did to get there.
LOL @ Jim!
Redmoth, maybe you are in an income situation where you are not required to pay taxes but I'm willing to bet most of us here do. I personally helped bankroll the extensive and EXPENSIVE negotiation and diplomatic processes that had to take place over months to get these idiots out of the situation they put themselves in. I am not happy about it, and I think they should have to pay back every penny that was spent to secure their safety and freedom.
And they don't need to turn Amnesty International on our as**s just because they got locked up. Whatever, if you don't like jail don't screw up. Our jails are fine. They're jails. They're supposed to suck.
in that picture at the top of the story which one is the female?
Does it matter which one is female? I'm sure they all shared each other in prison.
You can't tell? sorry about that. It happens but there is a cure.
The United States has spent millions of our tax payers money to secure their release Now, she is writing a book against the US.
Yeah, unbelievable. Nothing like biting the hand that feeds you.
"Shourd has written about the psychological effects of solitary confinement, and argued against its use in the United States."
I don't see anything subversive about this. It's her own valid insight into that experience. Been to the library lately?
everyone is so mean spirited. actually it was other middle eastern countries that scured their release. the book is about psychological effects of solitary confinement. the united states is a place where it is used and advocating for not using it is not treason.
Regards to #14.1
I admit I was too hasty in my judgement. I've since thought it over and I fall on my sword.
Her name is suspicious.I suspect a motive.
These three are traitors.
These three are profoundly stupid. American, other countries did secure their release but WE spent the money to get it done. They owe the money back to the taxpayers of this country.
Adela-884556 - i am not debating the stupidity of these three. clearly, something is wrong with them or they were spies. this brings up the issue of trust iran and the united states have with each other. the resources used to "free" them from iranian prison extend beyond the capability of the united states and the way it has been paid for is completely unknown to you or i or any other tax paying member of society. i am not sure what you mean by "they owe."
The two guys still have that pasty white look. I bet she made them go to this protest - I mean why would you want to be anywhere near a prison after experiencing an Iranian prison. Just say "I'm good."
Hopefully these two flakes go somewhere safe for their honeymoon. Don't drown in a rip tide or fall off the top of a Yosemite waterfall. Look both ways when crossing the street. Don't choke on a chicken bone. These kids need a nanny!
Only in America can you do something so stupid that it threatens your own lives and causes an international incident, then use the publicity from it to further your own personal agenda.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAmen!!!!
Next time someone pulls a stunt like that our country should do everything it can to irritate and otherwise piss off the country holding people.They may be geniuses,but they sure are stupid
Painted, I think we tried but Iran wasn't buying it! There was too much propaganda value for them.
Must be a slow news day - the hikers are back again. This just in: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead. Film at eleven.
Oh Gee Congratulations how nice!
So where ya going for a Honeymoon? Oh I know,back to the Iranian Border Right?
I mean what better place to go back to,that's where it all started.
They have the honeymoon suite, back at the prison you were staying in.
It would be so wonderful to recapture the memories,for being such morons!
Well Again Congratulations!
First, the all telling book, followed by the movie. They'll go for the gusto. They'll go for the gold.
i love it, this is the first time in a long time all the peaple posting have common sense and dont try to blame everyone else for these rich stupid kids and parents decisions to go hiking in countrys that advertise WE KILL AMERICANS FOR FUN they should pay restitution to the tax payers for getting them out have a safe day everyone
i agreed with you until i read the killing americans for fun part. totally not true.
Do I get restitution for paying for a war based on lies about WMD?
You know what i am thankful for? That in today's news, there are no stories of severe weather systems killings hundreds of people, there are no headlines threatening WWIII, and there is no news of apocalyptic tyrants taking over the world...I can endure a story about dumb, dumber, and dumbest. My only advice to them is, please don't procreate. We have enough morons running around.
For their honeymoon they're planning a hike through North Korea...
prob little harsh i apoligize
For their honeymoon they're planning a romantic hike through North Korea...
Then they could go for a romantic evening stroll across the path at Panmunjom between South and North Korea at the DMZ or camp under the stars (and flares) in no man's land!