September 18th, 2010
11:47 AM ET

Freed hiker thanks Oman for helping get her out of Iran

Freed American hiker Sarah Shourd thanked the Omani people Saturday for helping secure her release from Iran, saying that she will associate Oman with her "first breath of freedom."

Addressing journalists before leaving Oman to return home to the United States, Shourd said she hoped her fiance, Shane Bauer, and her friend Josh Fattal, still jailed in a Tehran prison, will soon be free.

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Filed under: Iran • Oman • U.S. • World
soundoff (24 Responses)
  1. Floria sigmundi

    If this girl had common sense she never would have gone to the middle east in the first place

    Check out this video on YouTube:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUJ4bL6O3uw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

    September 18, 2010 at 11:55 am | Report abuse |
    • PRAFUL

      True ....this has put the entire country's foreign policy at risk and set up stage for barter and bargain. So stupid for them to go to Iraq/ Iran for trekking...is there a drought in rest of the world ?

      September 18, 2010 at 1:07 pm | Report abuse |
  2. steve

    Travel should not hold any restrictions due to the actions of a religious sect of people who target us, but unfortunately, it's a much safer option to avoid the area. We should all go to the middle east and provide a lot of religious tolerance for those people, lol.

    September 18, 2010 at 12:26 pm | Report abuse |
  3. It's only a matter of time

    Not long now before her 2 fellow spies, er .... "traveling companions" are swinging from cranes in Tehran.

    well ... Someone has to pay the mullah ...

    September 18, 2010 at 12:29 pm | Report abuse |
  4. geez

    Even though you are probably right about the men's likely hood of being released..don't you think you are being a little harsh?? I also doubt they were being "spies." I am glad the female is on her way home.

    September 18, 2010 at 12:42 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Jjr1968

    Spies.

    September 18, 2010 at 12:53 pm | Report abuse |
  6. arabella

    I agree...what were they thinking hiking over there? I'm very sorry for their misfortune though... 🙁

    September 18, 2010 at 12:53 pm | Report abuse |
  7. termlimits

    Watch where you walk, you never know what you'll step in. Wake up! DUH!

    September 18, 2010 at 1:08 pm | Report abuse |
  8. eric

    So because these three got thrown in jail it cost our govt,my tax dollars,500000 grand to get her. Make her pay it back and I then feel sorry for stupid mistake

    September 18, 2010 at 1:25 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Jack

    I can't bring myself to believe that these 3 were spies. No one that stupid could "spy" on anything and rather than jail them and put them through all of that, the Iranians should have given them a few lashes across their butts with cane and sent them home. Just like we need to do to the illegals in this country.

    September 18, 2010 at 1:27 pm | Report abuse |
  10. AJ

    Should not travel on any countries that we have wars with or any disagreements! Hope those men hikers get out sooner. Really sad!

    September 18, 2010 at 1:46 pm | Report abuse |
  11. k

    Read the news the US government paid nothing for her release. I hope that her fiance & friend are released soon.

    September 18, 2010 at 1:53 pm | Report abuse |
  12. how f-ing stupid

    I heard Afghanistan has some nice walking trails,same with North Korea..heck while were at it we might as well go for a walk in Somalia or El Salvador..no sympathy for those idiots..how stupid..they're lucky they were'nt just shot and dumped in the desert..i planning my next hike in Iran..sounds fun..how f-ing stupid

    September 18, 2010 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Pat

    These are three young kids. They made a BIG mistake! I'm just hoping & praying the other 2 are released! If anything, they should of asked for a guide familiar with the area. Give em a break! I can GUARANTEE you these kids have been punished plenty. For what? Crossing a border? Not enough to warrant the punishment & possible death sentence the other 2 may still face! Let the first of you who are without sin cast the first stone.

    September 18, 2010 at 4:56 pm | Report abuse |
  14. DrKnife

    Kids? This woman is 32 years old. Running a redlight is a mistake. Flying to the other side of the planet to tip toe through the tulips within spitting distance of people who pray for your violent fiery death is utter stupidity.

    September 18, 2010 at 7:39 pm | Report abuse |
  15. dwighthuth

    Here is a question that needs asking of America. If the Imam helps bring the walls around Iran down thus freeing her people and stopping the terrorist's actions in the Middle East because of the free Iranian state would he (the Imam) be in a better position to ask that his facility be built near Ground Zero. Should his obligation to America and goal of freedom worldwide merit such a building? Which side does his Islamic sword fall on?

    Hope is Candle.

    September 18, 2010 at 10:53 pm | Report abuse |
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