[Episcopal News Service] Update: On Sept. 21, the New York Times reported that the U.S. hikers had been released.

Bishop John Bryson Chane of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington returned on Sept. 19 from Iran, where he and a delegation of Christian and Muslim leaders had sought the release of American hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal on humanitarian grounds.

Bauer and Fattal were arrested, along with Sarah Shourd, on July 31, 2009 by Iranian authorities and accused of spying. Shourd was released on bail in September 2010 for medical reasons and left the country. In August, Bauer and Fattal were sentenced to eight years in prison.

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