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Iran minister vows judiciary will fairly review conviction of US journalist

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced Saturday that Iran's judiciary will fairly review the espionage conviction of US journalist Roxana Saberi, adding that "ules and regulations in Iran equally apply to all individuals who violate the law." Mottaki's statement came in response to close public scrutiny of the development of Saberi's case in Iran. After having been convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years in prison last month, Saberi appealed. Iran's treatment of Saberi, who has reportedly been on a hunger strike in protest of her detainment since the 20th of last month, has provoked a great deal of international criticism. Last month, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton emphasized her disappointment in Iran's judiciary for their treatment of the case. Also last month, Amnesty International urged the necessity of Saberi's release based on the assertion of her position as a "prisoner of conscience," serving as "a pawn to the ongoing political developments between Iran and the USA." Saberi was originally arrested in March after buying a bottle of wine, as alcohol consumption is illegal under Iranian law. Although it was initially believed Saberi would be charged with working without Iranian press credentials, the Iranian government charged her with espionage, accusing her of passing classified information to US intelligence services.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on May 03, 2009 (boomark / email).