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Friends, relatives to mark birthday of American hiker detained in Iran

By the CNN Wire Staff
American hikers, Shane Bauer, left, and Josh Fattal have been detained in Iran since 2009.
American hikers, Shane Bauer, left, and Josh Fattal have been detained in Iran since 2009.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been imprisoned in Iran since 2009
  • They were arrested with another hiker along an unmarked border between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Sarah Shourd, a third hiker, was released last year
RELATED TOPICS
  • Joshua Fattal
  • Shane Bauer
  • Iran

(CNN) -- One of two American hikers imprisoned in Iran will mark his second straight birthday in detention Saturday, with relatives and friends fasting to show solidarity.

Josh Fattal turns 29 on Saturday. He and Shane Bauer, 28, have been imprisoned on espionage charges in Tehran for nearly two years.

The two were charged after being arrested in July 2009 while hiking along an unmarked border between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan.

A third hiker, Bauer's fiancee Sarah Shourd, was also arrested and released last year.

Relatives and friends will fast to mark Fattal's birthday and continue a rolling hunger strike started by their mothers last month, according to a family statement.

"Never in my entire life would I have imagined such madness; that I would have a grandson held for no reason in an Iranian prison and our entire family fasting in protest," said Muriel Felleman, 85, Fattal's grandmother.

A trial for the two men was supposed to happen last month, but it was delayed without an explanation after they were not brought to the courthouse.

Family members have said they are worried that they are not getting proper care and their lives may be in danger.

Fattal's mother urged Iran to free the two.

"Whoever is to blame for preventing our sons' release is bringing shame on Iran," Laura Fattal said. "Shane and Josh have been denied justice and compassion for far too long."