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BREAKING NEWS:

CAIR Welcomes Release of U.S. Hikers Held in Iran

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/21/11) –- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization welcomed the release today of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the American citizens who have been jailed in Iran for more than two years.

Representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) just returned from a trip to Iran undertaken at the invitation of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The CAIR officials were part of a delegation of American Muslim and Christian leaders that went to Iran to foster theological dialogue and to seek the release of the hikers. Delegation members included CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad and CAIR Board Chairman former State Senator Larry Shaw (NC), as well as Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Washington, and The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane, Episcopal Bishop of Washington and Interim Dean of Washington National Cathedral.

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"We welcome the release of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal and hope the successful resolution of their case will lead to improved relations between the United States and Iran," said CAIR's Awad. "We believe the efforts of the recent interfaith delegation to Iran offer a positive example of bridge-building initiatives that may be undertaken to help promote mutual understanding and cooperation between nations."

He added that CAIR met with President Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials about the issue of the detained hikers several times over the past two years.

Awad also noted that whenever CAIR representatives met with Iranian officials, they requested information about former FBI agent Robert Levinson who has been missing in Iran since 2007.

"We hope our government will now address the issue of Iranian citizens detained in the United States with the same spirit of compassion that resulted in the release of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal," said Awad.

During their recent trip to Iran, the interfaith delegation met with family members of Iranians held in the United States.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.