Hikers freed by Iran are concerned that their lawyer cannot leave the country

[Emily]

Video and transcript at link.

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/10/18/freed_us_hikers_speak_at_occupy

October 18, 2011
[snip]
SHANE BAUER: This is the perfect place to celebrate our freedom. We?ve been here for a couple days, and feels like this city is a part of me, it?s a part of my heart, and to see this happening is just?I can?t tell you how incredible it feels.

I wanted to mention one person that is very important to us, who has not been able to celebrate our freedom like we have. This person is?his name is Mr. Masoud Shafii. He was our lawyer in Iran. And he?for 26 months, he tried to defend us courageously and skillfully, as best as he could within Iranian law, and he had a very difficult time. And now that our case is over, we?ve been released and sent home, he is not able to celebrate. He has been living under fear of prosecution?persecution since we?ve been freed. He was arrested. He tried to leave the country to come here to see his family, and he wasn?t able to. His passport was taken. He?s constantly under the threat of being put in prison. And, you know, we stand behind him. He defended us. And he, this man, you know, he?s a lawyer, and he?s doing his job. He?s working within the law. And he doesn?t?now that we?re out, we?re free, and we?re speaking, and we?re here talking to you guys and, you know, saying what we want to say around the country, and, you know, he doesn?t have anything to do with it. He?s not influencing us. He doesn?t have any control over us. I just wanted to say that and just say that we?re thinking about him and that we love him....