Friday, March 20, 2009

Roxana Saberi's Fate in Iran Delayed for a Couple Weeks

Imprisoned American journalist Roxana Saberi will have to wait for at least a couple weeks before Iranian officials have a chance to review her status because of a holiday.

Today is the start of Iran's New Year's celebration, which lasts for a couple weeks, her father Reza Saberi told MSNBC. All government offices are closed for that time and no officials will be available to work on her case.

Roxana Saberi, 31, a native of Fargo, N.D., has been held in prison without charge since January.

"It will be very hard on her because she knows she shouldn't be there and we know she hasn't done anything wrong," her father told MSNBC. "So keeping her in the prison is quite unfair and unjust."

Earlier this month, Iranian judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi told reporters: "The arrest [of Roxana Saberi] took place on a writ issued by the revolutionary court. ... I do not know exactly what the accusations are." He also said Saberi was being held in Tehran's Evin prison.

Agence France Presse reported earlier that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Saberi had been working "illegally" in the country after her press card had been revoked in 2006. However, he neither confirmed nor denied her arrest. Media reports have said she was arrested on charges of buying alcohol, which is prohibited in Iran.

North Dakota's congressional delegation has been working with the United Nations to step in and help free Roxana. Switzerland represents the interests of the United States in Iran.

1 comment:

garis tepi said...

saya suka sekali dengan berita/tulisan ini.
ini sangat menarik....