US journalist receives eight-year sentence for spying

[Nikos]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6120845.ece

AN American journalist has been jailed for eight years after an Iranian court convicted her of spying.
The trial of Roxana Saberi, 31, lasted just five days and took place behind closed doors.
Saberi, a freelance reporter for the BBC and America’s National Public Radio, was arrested in January initially for not carrying the correct press credentials. She was then accused of passing classified information to US intelligence services and taken to Tehran’s Evin jail.
The United States say the charges of espionage are baseless and have demanded her immediate release, while fellow journalists have set up an internet campaign to highlight her plight.

It upsets me that the Iranians are holding a citizen on baseless charges like this.

[Holger Danske]

Just Tehran trying to piss off the Americans and test how hard the new Admin is...

[Phier]

While sure, the Iranian government does things like sentence homosexuals to death and the usual 'plays well with others' policies we expect from the region, but hell she COULD have been spying.

Just Tehran trying to piss off the Americans and test how hard the new Admin is...

That or then they release her to usher in a new ages of 'understanding'. Trump up charges, convict a woman of being a spy, and then in a show of good faith release her. Then Obama can claim some sort of victory of diplomacy in Iran while nothing real changes and they start to build nuclear weapons, which by earlier estimates (no clue what they are now) will be completed before the end of his term.

[Phier]

That or then they release her to usher in a new ages of 'understanding'. Trump up charges, convict a woman of being a spy, and then in a show of good faith release her. Then Obama can claim some sort of victory of diplomacy in Iran while nothing real changes and they start to build nuclear weapons, which by earlier estimates (no clue what they are now) will be completed before the end of his term.

President's letter

Mr Ahmadinejad said the rights of Ms Saberi and jailed Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakhshan, who has been behind bars since November, must not be violated in any way.

"Please take the necessary measures to ensure that the process of examining the charges against the aforementioned individuals are being carried out carefully and fairness, justice and regulations are observed," he wrote in the letter to prosecutors.

"Please, personally observe the process to ensure that the defendants are allowed all legal rights and freedom in defending themselves and that their rights are not violated even by one iota," reported Iranian official government news agency Irna.

US President Barack Obama was "deeply disappointed" at the sentencing, his spokesman said on Saturday.

The verdict came despite calls by the Obama administration for Ms Saberi's release and diplomatic overtures to Iran after three decades of severed ties.

And so it begins.

[Zephyrus]

Just Tehran trying to piss off the Americans and test how hard the new Admin is...

They should realize by now that our strong champion for Hope and Change and Peace...is acting mighty flaccid about his commitments...

[Kiljan Arslan]

Just Tehran trying to piss off the Americans and test how hard the new Admin is...

That and Ahmadinejad getting desperate and trying to cause a culture of rfear in Iran so he'll stay in power.

[The Devil's Sergeant]

We sitting here cannot possibly know all the facts of the matter.

Just Tehran trying to piss off the Americans and test how hard the new Admin is...

Maybe, or maybe it is the other way around.

[._.]

at least she isnt sent to a torture camp without any charges

[Captain Jin]

She might actually be guilty of espionage, who knows? But that sucks.

[Roman Rapper]

You can bet your bottom dollar that Iran is treating her much, much better than the Americans treat the Iranian suspects who they detain. The Americas have been torturing their prisoners as a matter of course on the off chance that they may divulge information.

She is not being tortured, she is being treated well, even though there is a good chance she was spying on them.

[Captain Jin]

You can bet your bottom dollar that Iran is treating her much, much better than the Americans treat the Iranian suspects who they detain. The Americas have been torturing their prisoners as a matter of course on the off chance that they may divulge information.

She is not being tortured, she is being treated well, even though there is a good chance she was spying on them.

Yeah whatever, man. You have that on really good information I bet.

[AqD]

The trial of Roxana Saberi, 31, lasted just five days and took place behind closed doors.

A trial behind closed doors is just as same as no trial.

Would US back her up by military actions?

She is not being tortured, she is being treated well, even though there is a good chance she was spying on them.

spying? Where? When? What information?

[Captain Jin]

Empi rapper won't give you any sources or any reason behind his beliefs. He just makes them up as he goes along. I won't deny there's a possibility espionage was being conducted. Journalism is a common cover, BUT his baseless comments about the US torturing Iranian 'captives' as a matter of course and the fact that Iran is most certainly angelic in it's dealings with it's captives is ridiculous.

[Applesmack]

Well then, perhaps the next country an Iranian official vists, the place should detain him/her on charge of espionage and have a trial behind "closed doors"...

[Roman Rapper]

Empi rapper won't give you any sources or any reason behind his beliefs. He just makes them up as he goes along. I won't deny there's a possibility espionage was being conducted. Journalism is a common cover, BUT his baseless comments about the US torturing Iranian 'captives' as a matter of course and the fact that Iran is most certainly angelic in it's dealings with it's captives is ridiculous.

Have you heard of Binyam Muhammad? He was a british resident who lived in London and had an English family. he was taken by the Americans and kept for seven years without charge, even though his only crime was attempting to travel on a false passport.

During the time he was held by them they tortured him in several ways, including water boarding and stripping him naked, chaining him up and repeatedly cutting his genitials with razor blades. All of this is proven.

So do you really think the Americans would hesitate to torture a Iranian? Of course not.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Have you heard of Binyam Muhammad? He was a british resident who lived in London and had an English family. he was taken by the Americans and kept for seven years without charge, even though his only crime was attempting to travel on a false passport.

During the time he was held by them they tortured him in several ways, including water boarding and stripping him naked, chaining him up and repeatedly cutting his genitials with razor blades. All of this is proven.

Where are the sources for these claims?

[Roman Rapper]

Where are the sources for these claims?

Here is a video showing the allegations being made



Here is a video showing British Channel 4 news taking the allegations very seriously. For your infromation C4 news in Britain is now far, far more trusted as being fair and balanced than either the BBC or Sky News. The report also suggests that British agents were involved in his torture.



Here is a video from the BBC showing Shami Chakrabarti (one of Britian's best known and most respected civil liberties activist) speaking on "Question Time" ( Britian's best known and most respected political panel show) Saying that the British court of appeal has found that Binyam Muhammed was tortured in medieval ways by the Amercians.

[danzig]

Have you heard of Binyam Muhammad? He was a british resident who lived in London and had an English family. he was taken by the Americans and kept for seven years without charge, even though his only crime was attempting to travel on a false passport.

During the time he was held by them they tortured him in several ways, including water boarding and stripping him naked, chaining him up and repeatedly cutting his genitials with razor blades. All of this is proven.

So do you really think the Americans would hesitate to torture a Iranian? Of course not.

And this has what to do with the topic at hand? Oh thats right nothing...

[Roman Rapper]

And this has what to do with the topic at hand? Oh thats right nothing...

The other member asked me to supply evidence showing that the Americans are torturing people. I simply responded to his request.

[shadyrome]

Have you heard of Binyam Muhammad? He was a british resident who lived in London and had an English family. he was taken by the Americans and kept for seven years without charge, even though his only crime was attempting to travel on a false passport.

During the time he was held by them they tortured him in several ways, including water boarding and stripping him naked, chaining him up and repeatedly cutting his genitials with razor blades. All of this is proven.

So do you really think the Americans would hesitate to torture a Iranian? Of course not.

What happened to my beloved america, of freedom, and fight for human right