Iran vs USA. Ahmadinejad promises fair appeal for reporter

Iran president intervenes to head off diplomatic rift with USA

On the 19th April, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iran's President said he told prosecutors to make sure that Roxana Saberi will be fairly defended to her appeal. Iranian-American journalist, she has been, on the 18th April, condemned to eight years for alleged espionage.

In the context of thawing, thanks to the overtures from President Obama and the change of the American international politics, those last signals from the Iranian Leadership may help to avert or delay a damaging new diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington.

Rowana Saberi, 31, is a freelance journalist who has reported for news organisations including BBC and National Public Radio in the US. Once a finalist in the Miss America contest, holds a Masters degree from Cambridge University, she moved to Iran six years ago and holds dual nationality. She was arrested in Januray on charges she was working without proper press credentials.

Reporter without borders, one day before the jugement said that :  « This conviction was unjust under the Iranian criminal code and the sentence was severe. Saberi's lawyer was not with her when she appeared before the judges for the single hearing on 13 April. Coming as it does in the run-up to elections; this sentece is a warning to all foreign journalist working in Iran. »

The Saberi case can create some doubts. It seems to be the latest example of how the Iranian authorities arbitrarily use spying charges to arrest journalist and tighten the gag on free expression.

Jérôme Guiraud