Wife: Ali willing to visit Iran to free hikers

    In addition to sending a letter to Iran’s supreme leader seeking the release of two American hikers, Muhammad Ali’s wife says the boxing champ is willing to go there to help make it happen.

    Janet Cappiello of the AP reports that Lonnie Ali says such a visit would depend on her husband’s health. Parkinson’s Disease has limited his speech and physical activity.

    Arguably the most prominent U.S. Muslim, Muhammad Ali made a behind-the-scenes appeal to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February. The letter asks Khamenei to release Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, who’ve been held on espionage charges since July 2009, when they were arrested while hiking in northern Iraq near the Iranian border.

    The third hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released on bail in September.

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