Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- The Iranian lawyer for three U.S. hikers detained in Iran is "upset" that Sarah Shourd's planned release has been canceled and said her family's emotions are "being abused".
"Put yourself in her mother's shoes," Masoud Shafii said on Saturday. "It's been more than year and she has no idea why her daughter was arrested and what will happen to her".
Iranian officials had said on Thursday that Shourd, one of three American hikers held in Iran for more than a year, would be released this weekend. But Friday, prosecutors said the release had been "canceled" because the judicial process has not been completed.
Shafii told CNN that "there's obviously a difference of opinion as to what to do within the government. Legally the prosecutor has the final say in this matter, but I ask you, has anything about their arrests and treatment been legal so far?"
Shourd, 32, along with Shane Bauer, 28, and Josh Fattal, 28, were detained July 31, 2009, after they allegedly strayed across an unmarked border into Iran while hiking in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
Tehran has accused the three hikers of spying. Iran's intelligence minister has hinted the country may consider releasing them in exchange for the release of Iranian prisoners, according to state news outlets.
CNN
