Relatives of three Americans detained in Iran traveled to the Iranian mission at the United Nations on Thursday to deliver a petition appealing to Iran for the release of their loved ones. The three Americans are believed to have mistakenly crossed over into Iran while hiking in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region in August. The detained Americans have been identified as Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Joshua Fattal. Bauer’s mother, Cindy Hickey, spoke outside the United Nations.

Cindy Hickey: “It feels like a piece of my soul is missing right now, very much. I feel — even though I feel connected to him, it’s not the connection that I’m accustomed to. Even though he hasn’t lived in my home, I just feel like there’s a missing piece. And I, too, very much worry about, you know, what they’re going through psychologically and just their daily needs.”