Freed Journalist: 'It's Wonderful To Be Back'

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted May 27, 2009 6:22 PM CDT

(Newser) – Roxana Saberi, the 32-year-old journalist recently sprung from a prison in Iran, got a face-to-face meeting today with Hillary Clinton to express her thanks, reports CNN. "When I found out that I had the support while I was in prison, I gained a lot of strength and hope, and I didn't feel so alone anymore," Saberi said. "It's wonderful to be back."

Saberi, whose father is of Iranian descent, spent 3 months in prison on espionage charges before a judge modified her sentence. Clinton personally pressed the case. "My heart went out to Roxana and to her parents every single day," Clinton said. "This was a matter of great concern to our country, certainly to the Obama administration, to me personally, not only as secretary of state, but as a mother."

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Roxana Saberi at the State Department today. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Roxana Saberi, at the State Department today. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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It's wonderful to be back in the United States. I'm very proud to be an American, just as I'm proud of my Japanese and Iranian heritage. - Roxana Saberi

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