Jailed U.S. Journalist In Iran Freed

Roxana Saberi Can Leave Country Immediately After Receiving Suspended Sentence For Spying Charge

(CBS/AP)  An American journalist imprisoned on espionage charges in Iran for four months was freed Monday and reunited with her smiling, tearful parents, who prepared to return home with her to the U.S. in the coming days.

The release of Roxana Saberi clears a major obstacle to President Barack Obama's attempts at a dialogue with the top U.S. adversary in the Middle East. Washington had called the charges against the 32-year-old dual Iranian-American citizen baseless and repeatedly demanded her release.

Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could also win some domestic political points a month before he faces a re-election challenge from reformers who seek to ease Iran's bitter rivalry with the United States.

Saberi's Iranian-born father, Reza Saberi, wiped away tears, then flashed a broad smile as he and his wife, Akiko, arrived at Tehran's Evin prison - notorious for holding political prisoners - to meet their daughter. Akiko Saberi, who is of Japanese origin, wore a flowered headscarf.

"I'm very happy that she is free. Roxana is in good condition," Reza Saberi said later at his family home in Tehran. "We had expected her release but not so soon. She will be preparing to leave (Iran) tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

The younger Saberi, who was taken out of Evin through a back door away from journalists, was not seen after her release. She was staying with her parents at a friend's home, apparently to avoid publicity before leaving Iran.

Her release came when an appeals court reduced her eight-year prison sentence on charges of spying for the U.S. to a two-year suspended sentence, said Iranian judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi. He said Saberi was free to leave Iran.

The court ordered the reduction as a gesture of "Islamic mercy" because she had cooperated with authorities and had expressed regret, he said.

"There was enough back-channel pressure on Tehran from U.N. members and from global leaders, to release Roxana Saberi," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk at the U.N. "Iran is already under pressure for its defiance on its nuclear program and because it did not serve the government's interest when the presidential election campaign is heating up."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed the release.

"Obviously, we continue to take issue with the charges against her and the verdicts rendered, but we are very heartened that she has been released, and wish her and her family all of the very best," Clinton said in a statement.

The release ends an ordeal for Saberi, who was convicted and sentenced in a secret session by a security court. Her father said the trial lasted only 15 minutes and her lawyer was not given time to defend her.

(Reza Saberi and his wife Akiko, parents of U.S.-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi, wait before their daughter Roxana leaves jail outside of Evin prison in Tehran on May 11, 2009.)

Her parents, who live in Fargo, N.D., rushed to Iran to seek her freedom. At one point, the younger Saberi held a hunger strike protesting her jailing, but ended it after two weeks when her parents, visiting her in prison, asked her to stop because her health was weakening.

Saberi, who was crowned the 1997 Miss North Dakota, moved to Iran six years ago and had worked as a freelance journalist for several organizations, including NPR and the British Broadcasting Corp.

She was arrested in late January, but it was not known until Feb. 10, when she called her father in Fargo and told him she had been detained. She said it was because she had bought a bottle of wine, which is illegal in Iran but available on the black market. Her parents decided not to publicize the news until early March when their concerns grew because their regular communications with her were cut off.

The next day, Iran's Foreign Ministry acknowledged her arrest, saying she was working in the country illegally because her press credentials were revoked in 2006. But when she was put on trial in mid-April, she was convicted on much harsher charges of spying for the United States.

The conviction and heavy sentence brought strong criticism from the U.S. and other countries at a time when Mr. Obama was reaching out to Tehran. Iranian leaders have given mixed signals to the U.S. outreach, sometimes appearing cold, but at times expressing optimism over possible talks. Saberi's arrest, however, was seen by many in the West as a sign that at least some hard-liners in Tehran may be trying to scuttle any overtures.

In the face of U.S. criticism, Ahmadinejad and others sounded a more moderate tone, promising that Saberi's case would get a full review on appeal.

On Sunday, the appeals court convened for five hours, allowing the defense to make its case. Her lawyers emerged saying they were able to defend her and were optimistic her sentence would be reduced.

Saberi family friends in Fargo were elated at news of her release. Last month, many had tied yellow ribbons around trees in the quiet upscale neighborhood along the Red River Valley to show support for her.

Marianna Malm, Saberi's former English teacher at Fargo North High School, was in tears Monday as she prepared for work.

"They are tears of joy," Malm said. "It's an overwhelming announcement."

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., called Saberi's imprisonment a miscarriage of justice that "could not stand the test of public opinion."

Dorgan said Iranian officials likely felt the weight of international pressure.

"Obviously this means Iran has responded in the right way to this situation," Dorgan said. "They're moving to correct something that was a terrible miscarriage of justice."

[toldyouso29]

what does it matter? she is both american and iranian. why not explore your culture? i wish i could do that with my heritage . . .
Posted by whatsup49 at 9:56 AM : May 11, 2009


any idiot that willingly goes to a hostile country just to "explore their culture" deserves anything and everything that happens to her. americans do not carry their American rights, privileges and Democracy with them whereever they go ---especially not to countries that are not signatories to treaties with us. If she want so explore her culture--she can do it on the internet, through encyclopedias or by reading National Geographic.

If she wants to experience a country who reviles Americans up close and personal--she should not expect an individual bailout for her personal curiousity and deserves every way that hostile country may try to drill her, America cannot afford to run after every citizen who places themselves in harms way--based on personal desire. Because then we would not be a country--just babysitters to irresponsible people pursuing their own self interests.

[toldyouso29]

This is a country that can never admit when they do something wrong.
Posted by tbbaot at 5:14 AM : May 11, 2009

A lot like the country who continually denies that they are wrong, but even after finally admitting it--keeps on doing it?

ala USA denying wire tappinf, denying torture, rendition, reasons for war--but in each case even after admitting we are wrong, still continuing to do those things.

Hello Iran pot, meet USA Kettle.

[toldyouso29]

Maybe it is time to reconsider living in countries hostile to the USA? what must this journalist been thinking? Book and movie deal?

[sherdon23]

I was over joyed at hearing the release of Ms. Roxana Saberi. Since her incarceration I've been following the news as much as I can on her ordeal and found out that she proceeded to go on a hunger strike. I said to myself what a strong woman. My wife and I said a prayer for her and her family. God was truly on our side on this one. To Roxana and your family I wish you many blessings and prosperity. Enjoy your time together with your family, don't be too sad over what had happen but me very happy that out of it you became a stronger person. Certain trials enter ourselves so we can grow, and surely I can say without a thought you have grown. I love you and I wish you all the best.

Sherdon
BayArea, Ca

[cbsantispin]

Sustained Global pressure works. When the World says "STOP" the World means "STOP".

[U-R-So-Wrong]

URSOWRONG: all you have to is open your eyes up and look at the facts of history. That also means shutting off the white wing hate merchants and getting out of the party of torture and death. Even a child can see what evil lurks in the Republican party.
Posted by noloyalisti

You are not the arbiter of reality. I do not think that the USA is a religious foundation, I believe it is a secular republic. I also believe this to be the case with Israel, whose citizens are members of a "Jewish state" in the same sense that their ancestors came from ancient Judea. Muslims are members of the Israeli parliament. I am not aware of any Jewish members of the other so-called governments that exist in the Near East.

The US has interests in supporting any pro-American republics. Your analysis of the US government and the American economic system that has sustained you is flawed and self-contradictory (the US is run by oil corporations, and yet somehow takes its orders from an outnumbered, non-oil-producing nation like Israel -- oh, please!) -- and your political embrace of every police-state in the Near East (despite their politics being descended from anti-British, pro-Nazi movements of the 1930s and 1940s), I can only advise you to read any history not written by Cindy Sheehan.

With regard to the Republican Party, they will undergo an-out-of-power transformation or they will fail. Same would have been true if the Democrats had lost another election after rubber-stamping the Bush years (and you now have full faith and confidence the Democrats will fix things.)

Be prepared for the Democratic bailout porgram to produce inflation. That's how they are fixing things: Trickle-Down Economics with Corporate Cronyism as the receipients.

[Kuei1248]

"Jeez, how many people has the United States locked up with no charges or fake charges? "

I am one. Thank you Rockford Illinois. Fortunately, I've found a way to pay them back. I have forced 12 companies located in Rockford, Illinois out of work since then and am currently working on 13 and 14. Yeah, This is war, and Rockford is losing. Hundreds of lost jobs and hundreds of thousands of lost tax dollars. Anybody else wanna **** me off?

[vranger]

Hmmmm,

I wonder how many nukes the White House promised Iran they could have in exchange for htis?

[noloyalisti]

URSOWRONG: all you have to is open your eyes up and look at the facts of history. That also means shutting off the white wing hate merchants and getting out of the party of torture and death. Even a child can see what evil lurks in the Republican party.

[enzoc45]

numespaul...people like you are becoming more n more irrelevant every day...did you know that?

[enzoc45]

GREAT NEWS!!! I guess diplomacy works after all...hu??

[U-R-So-Wrong]

noloyalisti I am quite serious. My friend's brother suffered from the same sort of persecution obsessions and was diagnosed as schizophrenic. This requires medication.

[noloyalisti]

Jeez, how many people has the United States locked up with no charges or fake charges? Bushoccio and his terrorist coherts the Republicans are famous throughout the world for this. and you are worried about Iran?
Posted by noloyalisti

Whatever you are smoking must be good.
Posted by rhs648

I guess you must have missed the roundups of Muslims after 911. And did not hear about the renditions done by our CIA. And you don't know anything about Abu Gharain and Guantanomo where we locked up 'enemy combatants without charges. What do you know?

[rrozsa]

Well, I'll be. Looks like hunger strikes may work after all..... Who'da thought it.

[rhs648]

Jeez, how many people has the United States locked up with no charges or fake charges? Bushoccio and his terrorist coherts the Republicans are famous throughout the world for this. and you are worried about Iran?
Posted by noloyalisti

Whatever you are smoking must be good.

[noloyalisti]

Jeez, how many people has the United States locked up with no charges or fake charges? Bushoccio and his terrorist coherts the Republicans are famous throughout the world for this. and you are worried about Iran?

[thetrajectory]

Anyone aware of President Ahmadinejad's political style will not be surprised with the release of Saberi.
http://thetrajectory.com/blogs/?p=435

[canadian1948]

Now perhaps the US can free Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen held at Guantanamo since he was 15(!) for whom the supine Canadian Conservative government does not have the integrity or courage to advocate. Another "miscarriage of justice" that "could not stand the test of public opinion" if the facts were generally known.

[whatsup49]

i feel so sorry for some of you and your petty comments about this young journalist, especially those saying she should stay where she is. no matter what she was reporting on, her imprisonment was unjust . . . and a way for a country to inimidate others who might follow her. i myself am happy she's been released and will be on her way home. and to those of you who question dual citizenship . . . what does it matter? she is both american and iranian. why not explore your culture? i wish i could do that with my heritage . . .

[iDragon13]

tfillmor, you are trying to use logic and reason with those who care nothing for either. Give up while you still have your sanity.