Two US citizens get 8-year sentence in Iran

Iran on Saturday sentenced two US citizens, who were arrested in Iran in 2009, to eight years in prison on charges of illegal entry and espionage, according to the website of state television. Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Joshua Fattal were arrested by border guards on July 31, 2009 after illegally entering Iran''s territory from Iraqi Kurdistan region, Iranian (Mehr) news Agency reported. The three were charged with illegal entry and espionage. Shourd was released from prison on bail of $500,000 on September 14, 2010. Bauer and Fattal have been each sentenced to three years in prison for illegal entry to Iran. They have also been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of espionage for the US intelligence agency. The ruling is subject to appeal for 20 days. Shourd''s case is still open.