How to help journalist Roxana Saberi, imprisoned in Iran

Guilty or Innocent: Perception or Reality

Based on Iranian sources, Iranian-American journalist Ms. Roxana Saberi has implicated herself by her testimony. Guilty or innocent, she is also a victim of the political conflicts between USA and Iran, the conflicts mostly created by the past President George Bush and instigated by Israeli government and her assets.

Our previous attempts to undermine the Iranian government by creating conflict in Iran have sharpened Iranian government scrutiny of all Iranian-Americans traveling to their homeland.

Since 1979, among those who were profiled and scrutinized were Iranian-Americans. Many Iranian-Americans, including those who were born in the United States, lost their jobs, demoted, ostracized, discriminated and forced into isolation.

Post September 11, USA sensing danger from those whose aim was to hurt our country created scrutiny and security apparatus against those perceived to be dangerous to us. Is it understandable that Iranian government senses the same security risks about Iranian-Americans considering USA and Israeli overt and covert attempts to destroy Iranian government?

It is a common knowledge that our past foreign policy has severely hurt Iranian-Americans both in USA and Iran, in addition to hurting common Iranian people.
We hope President Obama will stop the dirty trick agenda of the past-Presidents since 1979, and will establish now a formal political relation with Iran. We hope Iranian President Ahmadinejad will pardon Ms. Roxana Saberi now.

I wish the best for Roxana. I would like to know why nobody is helping us SAVEJAMESWILLSON.COM. James was in an emergency plane landing and has been suffering in a Moroccan prison for over 11 months. He is a diabetic who hasn't received medication. James has been starved, dehydrated, now possibly has TB and pneoumia. Beside all ill effects of untreated diabeties. James is 67 years old.

James Willson is a United States Citizen only. So why doesn't he get help from the media and Secretary of State Clinton?

Is the CPJ suggesting that using a press credential to undermine a foreign power is a legitimate activity of journalism, or that when one's press credential is revoked for violations that a reporter on foreign soil is free to continue their activities in violation.

I do believe the U.S. State Department communicates to all passport holders that when traveling abroad they are subject to the laws of the country they are in even when those laws are in variance with what would be consider common practice in Amera.

But from what I understand Ms. Saberi was really a political activist attempting to use a press shield for the advocacy of politics which were on her personal agenda and, though all journalism has a certain bias which may be termed political, I don't believe strictly speaking the practice of journalism is for the advocacy of this or that, particularly on foreign soil, as a register foreign agent, advised in advance what she was permitted to do and what she was not permitted to do.

I should also point out that the Iranian press is even allowed to report from this country, unless something has changed radically since the last time the FBI threatened me with death, or imprisonment. But should they report from the United States, they would be required to register with the State Department as foreign agents. In such case, all sorts of red lines would be drawn about what they, as guests in this country, would be allowed to report on, what they may photograph, what they may not photograph, where they may go and where they may not go.

Even an American citizen as a journalist is subject to all sorts of limitations like these. If you don't believe this, then try taking a camera or a recording device into a court house, or set up a telephoto camera across the road from a military base.

It appears to me that the CPJ, like NPR, has a political axe to grind with Iran and is perhaps using the Saberi case as a form of advocacy for certain political positions that the CPJ may hold which are not particularly germane to the practice of journalism but to some other rights that the CPJ thinks the Iranian people should have but are perceived by the CPJ to not have.

Aside for all of that, using a press credential as a vehicle for regime change places every journalist who works in Iran under greater peril.

I also note one of the CPJ's representatives recent comment to the effect that there is no journalism in Iran, only bloggers. I think you fail to see the facts of the matter on this issue unless my friends at the Tehran Times are not thought to be reporters anymore.

Prehaps what appears in the Iranian news is not what the CPJ would prefer to learn, but how does IRNA, Fars, Press TV, and the Tehran Times cease to be journalists?

In light of a positive conviction in a court of law, I must presume that the finder of fact in the case is correct and that Sabrei is guilty as charged unless and until that conviction is overturned. But until that takes place, I find it difficult to use the word journalist to describe someone who exploited that privilege to undermine a foreign power.

Yours truly,

Edward Campbell

Mr. Campbell goes well beyond the factual record in his comment. No evidence has been presented that remotely supports the notion that this journalist took any action to “undermine a foreign power.” Iranian officials thus far have made broad assertions, have disclosed no supporting evidence, and have conducted a one-day trial behind closed doors. Here is what the factual record does show: Roxana Saberi is a veteran journalist who has worked with distinction for a number of international news organizations. CPJ has asked for nothing more than fairness, due process, and transparency in this case, a basic standard it seeks for all journalists working in all countries.

It is true the Iranian government has only made broad assertions that Ms. Saberi was spying, which is the equivalent to saying she was undermining a foreign power.

A positive conviction in a court of law is however evidence of something. It is also coming on the heels of a number of arrests related to a so-called Velvet Revolution. The Iranian government appears to be insinuating that there is a relation between this and Ms. Saberi.

It is also in the factual record that her activity as a journalist continued for a long time in violation of the law.

Are you the CPJ appear to be suggesting that Iran has arrested her without cause, when the statements of the Iranian government suggest that she was using a press credential as a cover for illegal political activity.

After Shirin Ebadi declaration about Roxana Saberis case and Ahmadinejad
statement,we expected Iran administrations assist Roxana attornies but new
report is completly diffrent.

Tehran prosecutor did not permit Ebadi to visit her client(Roxana) at Evin
prison.in otherside in new and strange statement Ahmadinejad emphasis that
he avoides to interfere in juridical system affaires.

What dose mean?A kind of retreat?Iran political system have always send
contradictory messages to west for confusing them(makeing KAOS).One day
somekind of protection,at sametime Irans miniter of intellegence declare
that" Mr president only advise and recommend to fair treatment not
interfering."

It means West should not very hopful for find easy solution.we blieve the
only way at this time is national-international objection and pressures to
Iran.

It is old policy of Irani Gov.Without no responsibility whatsover.
At total prespective with our experience,Roxana has become a hostage.A
goods
for exchange.Iran want US be more moderat and reduce political pressure in
nuclear issue.also they want US releas some irans personnels ambassy whos
arrested by US army in Mousel(Iraq) last year.

WARRNING: We stress to concern about Roxana health.islamic prosecutors
have very bad recordes in punishments and repressions all journalists and
reporters espacially whos have dual nationality.4 years ago Zahra Kazemi
iran-canadian journalist arrested by security police and affter few day
killed by someones who never identify.

free speech and journalism photo display at u c conference center gladys bazan ramirez irvine student group 2nd floor conference room.