2005 : Joshua Fattal , Shane Smith and Sarah Shourd detained by Iranians . Fellow tour companion Shon Meckfessel , sick , stayed behind in Iraq . Was accused of illegally entering Iraq from Iraq 's Kurdish region , state TV says . Ahmed Awa , on the border of Iraq and Iran , is where police saw and warned the American hikers Friday . They were backpackers who blundered over border , hotel owner says .
2005 : Joshua Fattal , Shane Smith and Sarah Shourd detained by Iranians . Fellow tour companion Shon Meckfessel , sick , stayed behind in Iraq . Was accused of illegally entering Iraq from Iraq 's Kurdish region , state TV says . They were backpackers who blundered over border , hotel owner says .