One year later, future of American hikers in Iran remains unclear

Some observers saw an unspoken deal in the May release of French researcher Clotilde Reiss, who had been held in Iran for 10 months on charges of distributing photographs of the street demonstrations. She was freed just a few days after France defied the Obama administration by refusing to extradite to the United States an alleged Iranian arms smuggler, Majid Kakvand.

"Remember, the Iranian government is a deal-maker," Amirahmadi said. "The French case shows you that."

Though Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has publicly ruled out a prisoner exchange for the hikers, some say they believe that the recent return to Tehran of Iranian nuclear physicist Shahram Amiri could help advance their cause. Amiri said he was kidnapped and held prisoner in the United States; U.S. officials say he was a defector and CIA informant, and apparently facilitated his departure.

"He has been in the United States of his own free will and is free to go," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said at a July 13 briefing, and he contrasted Amiri's freedom of movement to the hikers' continued captivity.

"We continue to be mindful . . . that we have the three hikers in custody without charge in Iran," he added. "Obviously, they are there against their own free will."

The hikers' families don't know what it will take to win their freedom, but they remain resolute.

"What they are doing to my brother and his friends is amoral and inhumane," said Alex Fattal, Josh's older brother, "and they shouldn't be playing political games with innocents."

To mark Saturday's anniversary, the families and supporters of the hikers will hold rallies in 30 cities around the world, starting Friday in New York outside Iran's mission to the United Nations. Some demonstrators will dress in hiking gear; speakers will include the hikers' mothers and Hadi Ghaemi, director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

In Philadelphia, members of the Fattal family and supporters will gather Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. near the Liberty Bell at Sixth and Chestnut Streets.