Muhammad Ali wants Iran to release the hikers
May 25th, 2011 - 8:42 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattNew York, May 25 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has joined in the call to have the two hikers being held by the Iranian administration to be released. Tehran is holding the two American hikers after accusing them of espionage.
Three hikers were arrested by the Iranian authorities in 2009 on the border between Iran and Iraq but Sarah Shourd was released later. The remaining two- Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal- are still being held by the authorities. When they appeared before an Iranian court on the charges of espionage, the two pleaded not guilty.
Ali, who was born Cassius Clay, changed his name when he became a Muslim in the 1960s. He joined a host of other Muslims who signed a letter to the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urging him to pardon the two hikers.
Part of the letter said that, “After listening to the families, we believe that these Americans did not seek to cause any problems between the United States and Muslim world or the United States and Iran.”
The 69-year-old was part of a press conference conveyed by several US religious leaders calling on Iran to release the hikers. Ali listened on as the press conference was ongoing. He was accompanied by his wife Lonnie Ali.
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- Iran spied upon from centres in neighbouring countries: MP - Nov 10, 2011
- Iran agrees to release female US hiker - Sep 12, 2010
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- Iran begins trial of Amricans held for spying - Feb 06, 2011
- Released US hiker Sarah Shourd 'gratified' after meeting Ahmadinejad at UN - Sep 25, 2010
- US disappointed by Iran's sentencing of hikers: Clinton - Aug 22, 2011
- Iranian minister calls for trial of American hikers accused of espionage - Oct 17, 2010
Tags: 1960s, ali khamenei, american hikers, boxing legend, cassius clay, espionage, fattal, iran, iranian authorities, iranian court, iranian supreme leader, iraq, lonnie ali, muhammad ali, muslim world, muslims, religious leaders, shane bauer, shourd, tehran