Roxanna Saberi convicted of espionage in one day trial in Iran

[cali]

this kind of thing makes normalizing relations, difficult.

TEHRAN, Iran – An American journalist jailed in Iran has been convicted of spying and sentenced to eight years in prison, her lawyer said Saturday, dashing any hopes for her quick release.

The verdict was the first time Iran has found an American journalist guilty of spying, and it was unclear how the conviction would affect recent overtures by the Obama administration for better relations and engagement with Washington's longtime adversary.

Roxana Saberi, a 31-year-old dual American-Iranian citizen, was arrested in late January and initially accused of working without press credentials. But earlier this month, an Iranian judge leveled a far more serious allegation, charging her with spying for the United States.

She appeared before an Iranian court behind closed doors on Monday in an unusually swift one-day trial. The Fargo, North Dakota native had been living in Iran for six years and had worked as a freelance reporter for several news organizations including National Public Radio and the British Broadcasting Corp.

snip

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090418/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_us_journalist

[MADem]

1. But, but, but....

Aren't they a "freedom loving gubmint?" That treats everyone equally? And we're just .... baaaaaad? And it's all OUR fault?


This is hostage-taking by another name. Shame, yet again, on Iran.

[Ian David]

2. I don't know why they didn't arrest a journalist from Fox News.

Oh, wait.

I just said "journalist" in the same sentence as "Fox News."

I see my mistake now.

[Bandit]

3. Maybe she was

We don't know the facts nor were any of us at her trial. We know nothing about their legal system. I believe with all that is going on in the world the USA probably does have spies in Iran and other places around the world. She could very well be one of them...Then again she may just be an innocent American journalist. :shrug:

[cali]

4. She had a one day trial. One day. Do you really think that's

justice? And from everything I've read about her, it seems unlikely she was a spy. Nevertheless, she certainly didn't get justice.