Exasperated by Iran's refusal to free or try their sons, the mothers of American hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, imprisoned since 2009, were to begin an unusual hunger strike Thursday.
Laura Fattal, 58, of Elkins Park, and Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey, 50, of Minnesota, say their fast is in "solidarity with Josh and Shane," who also may have stopped eating as a form of protest.
Supporters of the hikers say Fattal, an environmental activist, and Bauer, a photojournalist, both 28, were trekking in Iraqi Kurdistan when they were arrested by Iranian border guards on July 31, 2009, and charged with espionage, which the pair strenuously deny. The case was to go to trial May 11 but was halted without explanation when Fattal and Bauer were not brought to court.
