roxana saberi photos

roxana saberi photos

Roxana Saberi, the American-Iranian journalist sentenced to eight years in prison for alleged espionage, is expected to be freed today. Ms. Saberi's release is cause for celebration, however, she was not the only journalist languishing in Iran's prisons. In Iran, the brutal suppression of free speech and a free press is routine. As a dual national who worked for leading media outlets, Ms. Saberi's case has generated headlines and outrage. By contrast, the cases of dozens of Iranian journalist, bloggers, and activists are often overlooked.

Roxanna Saberi's case is serious, but it was manipulated by the Iranian regime and used to draw attention away from the cases of other imprisoned media workers and bloggers. Even Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian President, feigned an interest in Ms. Saberi's case and demanded a fair trial, doubtless to boost his image and popularity.