American hikers to appeal eight-year jail term in Iran

THE lawyer for two American men arrested more than two years ago in Iran and convicted on charges that include espionage said yesterday he will appeal the verdict and his clients’ eight-year prison sentences.

Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were sentenced Saturday to three years for illegal entry into Iran and five years for spying for the United States. The two were arrested in July 2009 near the Iraq-Iran border along with a third American, Sarah Shourd, who was released in September on $500,000 bail and returned to the US. All three deny the charges, saying they were only hiking near the ill-defined border.

The Americans’ Iranian lawyer, Masoud Shafiei, told The Associated Press he received the verdict of the clients on Sunday. He said his clients are innocent and that he will appeal the verdict.