Shane Bauer embraces mom after 10 months in an Iranian prison

Screengrab via BBC

The imprisoned hikers are reunited with their mothers

Ten months after her son, Shane Bauer, and two other American hiking friends were tossed in an Iranian prison for illegally crossing the border with Iraq, Cindy Hickey threw her arms around him in an emotional downtown Tehran hotel meeting.

The Pine City woman wasn't alone. Traveling with her were Nora Shourd and Laura Fattal. Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, were with Bauer, 27, the day they were arrested. It's the first time the mothers have been permitted to see their children since the ordeal began last July.

The question now is whether the three prisoners will be released. Their mothers are scheduled to be in Iran for a week, and hope to plea their case on humanitarian grounds.

"Please, please let them go," Cindy Hickey said via the BBC. "It would be a good gesture for the world to see Iran doing."

Earlier, after arriving in Tehran, Hickey spoke to reporters about her hopes for the outcome of the trip:

More information at freethehikers.org.