Washington (CNN) -- Protesters held rallies across the United States and abroad Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of what many called the "unfair" detention of three American hikers seized by Iranian forces near the Iraqi border.
As part of a weekend of events, vigils were held in a number of locations worldwide Saturday, including Washington, D.C., Minnesota, Arizona, Texas, and Paris, France.
"It's really a global issue," Alex Fattal, older brother of detained American Josh Fattal, told CNN. "We want to send Iran a message".
The three Americans -- Josh Fattal, Sarah Shourd, and Shane Bauer -- were detained after they allegedly strayed across an unmarked border into Iran while hiking in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
At a rally outside the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday, relatives of Bauer -- a Minnesota native -- read a letter from the hiker's mother, according to CNN affiliate KARE.
"Working for Shane's release has become my life," the letter from Cindy Hickey read. "I have closed my doors to my business of 18 years and I do not go anywhere without a phone for fear I would miss that important call, or worst of all missing another brief call from Shane".
CNN
