Iran to hold trial for three US hikers in May
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An Iranian judiciary official said Sunday that Iran will hold another hearing session for three detained U.S. hikers on May 11, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Tehran province Judiciary Chief Ali-Reza Avaie told IRNA that " The next hearing session of three Americans charged with spying will be held on May 11 in Tehran's Public and Revolution court."
Asked whether the court will be open to public, Avaie said that "Usually, the hearing for such cases are held behind the closed- doors," said IRNA.
In February, an Iranian court held a close-door trial of three detained Americans Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd, who were arrested in Iran on July 31, 2009 for illegally entering Iran 's western border and were later charged with espionage.
The female U.S. hiker Sarah Shourd once jailed in Iran with the other two Americans and released by Tehran's prosecutor in September on bail of 500,000 U.S. dollars due to her health situation did not appear in February court.
Lawyer of the three Americans said Shourd had prepared defense. The U.S. government considered the charges totally unfounded.
