Roxana Saberi Convicted on Spying Charge - AAJA Releases Statement
Related Links:
Free Roxana Saberi: media inquires and the latest media coverage
Free Roxana Saberi (Saberi family site)
International Press Institute (April 20):
IPI Calls for Release of Journalists Being Used as ‘Political Hostages’ in Iran, North Korea
CNN (April 20): Journalist arrests not rare, advocates say
Huffington Post (April 20): Roxana Saberi's Parents Visit Her In Jail After Iran's Judiciary Chief Orders Full Investigation Into Case
BBC (April 20): Iran orders 'fair' Saberi appeal
The Hill (April 20): Obama says U.S. journalist in Iran is no spy
RTNDA: RTNDA Denounces the Iranian Conviction and Sentencing of American Journalist Roxana Saberi
Committee to Protect Journalists (April 18): In Iran, Roxana Saberi sentenced to eight years in prison
Richard Prince (April 18):
Iran Sentences Roxana Saberi to 8 Years
Los Angeles Times (April 18): Iran sentences Roxana Saberi to 8 years; Washington reacts
NPR (April 18): Iran Convicts U.S. Journalist Of Spying (audio interview with Saberi's father in Tehran and NPR editorial)
BBC (April 18): Case tests Obama's Iran agenda
Washington Post (April 18): Clinton says will press Iran on journalist's case
BBC (April 18): Obama dismayed by Iran sentence
InForum (April 18): Expert on Iran says clemency possible for Saberi; ND congressional delegation reacts with dismay to conviction
AP (April 18): Lawyer: Iran convicts US journalist of spying
BBC (April 18): Iran jails journalist as US spy
Kuwait Times (April 15): Free Roxana Saberi
New York Times (April 14): American Journalist Stands Trial in Iran
AP (April 14): Iran says US journalist tried behind closed doors
BBC (April 13): Journalist goes on trial in Iran
AP (April 9): Journalist held in Iran was classic overachiever
The Lede (April 8): Clinton Calls for Iran to Release American Reporter Charged With Spying
AP (April 8): Iran Charges Imprisoned American Journalist With Spying
Washington Post (April 8): Iran Charges Imprisoned American Journalist With Spying
BBC (April 5): Parents to visit Saberi in Iran
Washington Post (March 22): Women Ensnared By Iran
AAJA (March 4): AAJA Calls for Release of Journalist Detained in Iran
April 19, 2009
Iran has convicted Roxana Saberi of spying and sentenced her to eight years in prison after a closed, one-day trial.
AAJA and UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc., jointly released the following statement today:
We are deeply troubled by the news that American journalist Roxana Saberi has been found guilty of espionage by an Iranian court and sentenced to eight years in prison. We continue to believe in her innocence and urge Iranian officials to exercise compassion in her treatment.
AAJA is particularly distressed by the length and severity of Ms. Saberi's sentence, following a trial in which the evidence was secret. We are encouraged by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statement to the chief Tehran prosecutor that "defendants be allowed all legal rights and freedom in defending themselves and that their rights are not violated even one iota."
In addition to being allowed to present a full defense on appeal, we ask that she be released on bail pending her appeal. We call upon President Obama and Secretary Clinton, in their efforts to resolve this matter through the Swiss, to vigorously urge the Iranian government to pardon Ms. Saberi and allow her to return home to the United States with her family.
Ms. Saberi's professionalism and integrity as a journalist has been cited by every news organization for whom she worked, and her commitment to adhering to high standards was evident to AAJA and UNITY members who worked with her as a young journalist.
The freedom to report the news serves the community of the world. It should not be suppressed by intimidation or imprisonment. With many news organizations reducing their foreign coverage, the public is more reliant than ever on the work of freelance journalists like Ms. Saberi to help us understand more fully the world we share.
We ask all those who share our support for Ms. Saberi and grave concerns for her well being to make their appeal for compassion known to Iranian and American authorities.
Read AAJA's original story.
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