Freedom

Iran Releases Sarah Shourd, US Hiker

Sarah Shourd held for 14 months.

Some excellent news: Sarah Shourd has been released from Iranian prison after being held for 14 months on espionage charges. On Monday, Iranian officials said Shourd, 32, would be released on September 11 because of her health, then said she’d be let go only after her family posted bail of $500,000. American officials said they would not be contributing the cash, but Masoud Shafie, an attorney for the Americans, told ABC News that a "bank guarantee" for the bail had been given to the Iranian government. It's not clear who is responsible for the guarantee. Shourd was detained while hiking with her fiancé Shane Bauer and a friend, Josh Fattal, in July of last year. Iran said they had entered from Iraq, which the hikers said was an accident. Shourd has a serious gynecological condition and possibly a cancerous lump in her breast. She could still be put on trial for entering Iran.