Blending in: Cindy Hickey, Nora Shourd and Laura Fattal show respect for the local Muslim culture as they arrive at Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran in a bid to secure the release of their children
I think these Muslim nations are deluding themselves if they think this is what we have been waiting for! Repressive Islamo-religious rule!!
Dressed in black Islamic headscarves and long traditional robes, these three Americans pass for any Muslim woman going about everyday life in Iran.
But unlike their local counterparts, Laura Fattal, Nora Shourd, and Cindy Hickey are desperate to secure the release of their three children, who were arrested by Iranian authorities ten months ago for alleged spying.
In a gesture of goodwill to the Iranian government and a sign of respect to the country's culture, the mothers arrived at Tehran airport dressed in full Muslim garb and each carrying a pink rose for their hosts.
Tears of joy: Cindy Hickey embraces her son Shane Bauer (right), while Sarah Shourd hugs her mother Nora (centre) and Laura Fattal also has an emotional reunion with son Josh (left)
We finally meet again: Laura and Josh catch-up at the Esteghlal hotel in Tehran, ten months since her son was jailed along with his two friends, by Iranian authorities
Iran had granted the women visas to visit their children Sarah Shourd, 31, her boyfriend, Shane Bauer, 27, and their friend Josh Fattal, 27, who had been hiking in Iraq's scenic and largely peaceful northern Kurdish region when they were detained on the border.
Through tears of joy and relief, the mothers threw their arms up in the air and rushed to hug and kiss their children in an emotional reunion at the Esteqlal Hotel in the capital.
It was the first time the families had met since the young trio were arrested.
Iran detained the three Americans along the Iraqi border in July and have accused them of spying.
Their relatives reject the accusation and say the three were simply hiking in Iraq's scenic northern Kurdish region.
The mothers, who were still wearing Islamic dress and holding bouquets of flowers, arrived in Tehran in a bid to secure the release of their children.
Mrs Hickey, the mother of Shane Bauer, said they were 'very grateful to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the authorities for granting us a visa' to visit their children.
'We know that this is a great humanitarian act that they have given to us. Our reception was wonderful when we came into Iran,' she said in comments that were aired on English-language Press TV.
Holding on: Shane Bauer hugs his mother Cindy Hickey, who is desperately hoping her visit will help win the release of the three young Americans
Long road ahead: Nora Shourd is concerned about the welfare of her daughter Sarah (left) who is detained in the Iran's Evin prison
Relatives have had little news on the three Americans since their arrest, and their mothers were eager to talk to them and gauge where their health stands after ten months in captivity in Iran's Evin prison.
Nora Shourd has said she is especially worried about the effect that near-solitary confinement may be having on her always social daughter.
With no one to talk to, Sarah had become seriously depressed, her mother said, referring to information given to her by Swiss diplomats who visited the trio last month.
The diplomats also reported that Sarah was suffering a serious gynecological condition, while her boyfriend Bauer had a stomach ailment.
But Iran's intelligence minister, Heydar Moslehi, has defended his country's treatment of the Americans during their detention.
'We have treated the U.S. nationals according to our religious principles and on humanitarian grounds, even though these individuals committed an act of espionage by illegally crossing the border into Iran,' Mr Moslehi said today.
Iran claims the three entered Iranian territory from Iraq. But their parents argue that if the trio crossed the border it was by accident.
Battle's not over: Cindy Hickey, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, Nora Shourd, Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Laura Fattal (left to right) speak to the media in Tehran
Usual dress: The mothers Cindy Hickey (left), Nora Shourd (second left) and Laura Fattal (right), arrive at Dubai airport en route to Tehran
A lawyer representing the Americans, Masoud Shafii, has said that during their visit, the mothers are seeking meetings with officials involved in the case, and ideally with top Iranian leaders, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters.
Although the Americans have not been publicly charged, Mr Shafii has left open the possibility of a resolution outside of usual legal channels, saying 'anything is possible'.
'It doesn't have the feel of a normal court case,' he said.
The case could face complications from Iran's diplomatic showdown with the U.S. and its allies. Just before the mothers' arrival in Tehran, the Washington said it had won support from other major powers for a new set of sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program.
The U.S. - which has not had formal diplomatic relations with Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution - and its allies accuse Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
In recent years, a number of foreigners held by Iranian authorities on espionage and other security-related charges have been released following months of detention.
Last week, Iran freed French academic Clotilde Reiss, 24, after more than ten months in jail. She was convicted of provoking unrest and spying during the riots that broke out after June's disputed presidential elections.
An Iranian-American journalist, Roxana Saberi, who was arrested in January 2009, convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years in prison, was released on an appeal in May 2009.
Hickey lives in Minnesota, Shourd is from Oakland, California, and Fattal is from suburban Philadelphia.
Three U.S. hikers jailed in Iran meet their mothers
| Mail Online
A huge thank you to ISLAMIZATION WATCH, for presenting the photos and news on the three Americans held prisoners in Iran.
