Tehran Judge Echoes Call for 'Fair' Saberi Trial

Jailed US journalist has prison term cut to two years suspended

(NEWSER) - Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American reporter jailed in Tehran for the last 5 months, has been freed and reunited with her parents, the AP reports. An appeals court yesterday cut her sentence to a 2-year suspended term, down from the 8 years she was given for spying for the US. The case sparked international concern, and Saberi undertook a two-week hunger strike to protest her conviction. More»

(NEWSER) - Roxana Saberi’s appeal hearing will take place tomorrow, Reuters reports. The lawyer for the jailed American-Iranian journalist said it’s unclear when his client will find out if her 8-year sentence for espionage has been dropped or reduced. "The verdict could come next week or any other time,” he said. US officials have called the charges against Saberi baseless and demanded her immediate release. More»

Saberi's 1st interview subject requests visa for travel to Iran

(NEWSER) - Jesse Jackson has filed for an Iranian visa and is hoping to make a diplomatic trip as a “free agent” to argue for the release of Roxana Saberi, the Malaysia Star reports. The veteran civil rights activist says he was Saberi's first interview subject when she was a journalism student at Northwestern. “We want to make a humanitarian appeal, a moral appeal to gain her release,” he said today. More»

Ebadi urges bail release for journalist Roxana Saberi

(NEWSER) - Shirin Ebadi, the dissident Iranian human rights lawyer who won the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, will defend the Iranian-American journalist sentenced this weekend to 8 years in prison, reports the Washington Post. Ebadi is seeking to secure a bail release for Roxana Saberi, who was convicted of spying for the United States after initially being accused of other offenses. More»

Make sure Saberi can defend herself, Iran prez tells prosecutor

(NEWSER) - In connection with the case of jailed Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written to Tehran's prosecutor to urge him to "make sure that the accused people will enjoy all freedoms and legal rights to defend themselves." Saberi's lawyer, who plans to appeal her 8-year sentence, approved of the president's message, Reuters reports. Saberi, 31, a freelance reporter, is accused of spying for the US. More»