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Trying to explain the Saberi case | Trying to explain the Saberi case |
(3 days later) | |
By Jon Leyne BBC News, Tehran | By Jon Leyne BBC News, Tehran |
Roxana Saberi: 'I need some more time to think about what happened to me' | Roxana Saberi: 'I need some more time to think about what happened to me' |
It all came down in the end to a piece of paper. | It all came down in the end to a piece of paper. |
Two years ago, the young Iranian-American Roxana Saberi did some translation work for the Expediency Council, a part of the Iranian government. | Two years ago, the young Iranian-American Roxana Saberi did some translation work for the Expediency Council, a part of the Iranian government. |
She made a copy of a classified document about the US-led invasion of Iraq. | She made a copy of a classified document about the US-led invasion of Iraq. |
Two years later that would lead to her being arrested, held for three-and-a-half months in Evin prison, charged with spying, and sentenced to eight-year jail term. | Two years later that would lead to her being arrested, held for three-and-a-half months in Evin prison, charged with spying, and sentenced to eight-year jail term. |
According to her lawyers, at her appeal hearing last week, Ms Saberi admitted to possession of the document, but denied passing it to a "hostile power". | According to her lawyers, at her appeal hearing last week, Ms Saberi admitted to possession of the document, but denied passing it to a "hostile power". |
The court accepted her argument, and reduced her sentence from eight years to a two-year suspended term, which left her free to leave the country. | The court accepted her argument, and reduced her sentence from eight years to a two-year suspended term, which left her free to leave the country. |
For anyone who knows Roxana Saberi, the idea that she was a spy was faintly ridiculous. And working as a journalist without a press card would be the worst possible cover. | For anyone who knows Roxana Saberi, the idea that she was a spy was faintly ridiculous. And working as a journalist without a press card would be the worst possible cover. |
Ahmadinejad's letter | Ahmadinejad's letter |
The case grabbed headlines around the world. Her father, Reza Saberi, said she became a symbol for press freedom. | The case grabbed headlines around the world. Her father, Reza Saberi, said she became a symbol for press freedom. |
But it was also the sight of the fragile-looking former beauty queen, against the might of the Islamic Republic. Who could fail to be moved? | But it was also the sight of the fragile-looking former beauty queen, against the might of the Islamic Republic. Who could fail to be moved? |
The Iranian authorities do have good reason to fear foreign subversion | The Iranian authorities do have good reason to fear foreign subversion |
Her lawyers believe a letter from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, calling for her to be given her full legal rights, helped to secure her freedom. | Her lawyers believe a letter from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, calling for her to be given her full legal rights, helped to secure her freedom. |
Though he would fiercely deny it, perhaps Mr Ahmadinejad was sensitive to global public opinion. | Though he would fiercely deny it, perhaps Mr Ahmadinejad was sensitive to global public opinion. |
Perhaps, despite much blustery rhetoric, he really is interested in dialogue with US President Barack Obama, and realised what a serious obstacle this case might become. | Perhaps, despite much blustery rhetoric, he really is interested in dialogue with US President Barack Obama, and realised what a serious obstacle this case might become. |
But, again according to Ms Saberi's lawyers, intelligence and security officials argued to the end of her five-hour appeal hearing on Sunday against letting her go. | But, again according to Ms Saberi's lawyers, intelligence and security officials argued to the end of her five-hour appeal hearing on Sunday against letting her go. |
They were deeply reluctant to admit that their prize catch was really just an innocent goldfish that had swum into their nets. | They were deeply reluctant to admit that their prize catch was really just an innocent goldfish that had swum into their nets. |
Eventually the Iranian judges did accept that Ms Saberi was not a spy. | Eventually the Iranian judges did accept that Ms Saberi was not a spy. |
But it is also true that the Iranian authorities do have good reason to fear foreign subversion. | But it is also true that the Iranian authorities do have good reason to fear foreign subversion. |
'One revolution enough' | 'One revolution enough' |
Etched deeply in the Iranian psyche is the 1953 CIA and British-backed coup, in which the elected government of Mohammad Mossadeq was ousted. | Etched deeply in the Iranian psyche is the 1953 CIA and British-backed coup, in which the elected government of Mohammad Mossadeq was ousted. |
More recently, in a typically heavy-handed and counterproductive move, President George W Bush made available tens of millions of dollars to pro-democracy groups here. | More recently, in a typically heavy-handed and counterproductive move, President George W Bush made available tens of millions of dollars to pro-democracy groups here. |
According to American newspaper reports, more money has been funnelled secretly to try to destabilise Iran, or at least to maintain a heightened level of surveillance. | According to American newspaper reports, more money has been funnelled secretly to try to destabilise Iran, or at least to maintain a heightened level of surveillance. |
The Iranian government fears - and the neo-cons in Washington hope for - a "velvet revolution" in Iran, similar to those that installed pro-Western governments in Ukraine and Georgia. | The Iranian government fears - and the neo-cons in Washington hope for - a "velvet revolution" in Iran, similar to those that installed pro-Western governments in Ukraine and Georgia. |
There are many, many people here deeply frustrated with their government | There are many, many people here deeply frustrated with their government |
You do not have to be in Iran for long to realise: it is not about to happen. | You do not have to be in Iran for long to realise: it is not about to happen. |
Even the most westernised, most sophisticated citizens of smart north Tehran, do not want another revolution. | Even the most westernised, most sophisticated citizens of smart north Tehran, do not want another revolution. |
One is enough for anyone's lifetime, they tell you. | One is enough for anyone's lifetime, they tell you. |
But the Iranian government's fears are quite telling. They know you cannot have a velvet revolution without a large number of discontented people. | But the Iranian government's fears are quite telling. They know you cannot have a velvet revolution without a large number of discontented people. |
And there are many, many people here deeply frustrated with their government. | And there are many, many people here deeply frustrated with their government. |
You can tell that by the stream of educated young people leaving, or eager to leave, for Germany, the United States, Britain or Canada. | You can tell that by the stream of educated young people leaving, or eager to leave, for Germany, the United States, Britain or Canada. |
They want a government that spends more time trying to sort out the economy, the traffic, the pollution, and spends less time raking over old grievances and chanting "Death to America". | They want a government that spends more time trying to sort out the economy, the traffic, the pollution, and spends less time raking over old grievances and chanting "Death to America". |
Warning to journalists? | Warning to journalists? |
Those in positions of power in Iran must understand all of this. | Those in positions of power in Iran must understand all of this. |
But they see the world through a different lens. Their filter of paranoia interprets many apparently innocuous events as plots against them. | But they see the world through a different lens. Their filter of paranoia interprets many apparently innocuous events as plots against them. |
With some justice, perhaps. But keeping that sense of siege going, deliberately or otherwise, does not do any harm for their survival either. | With some justice, perhaps. But keeping that sense of siege going, deliberately or otherwise, does not do any harm for their survival either. |
Hence, one former beauty queen, photocopying one piece of paper, can be interpreted as part of a wider plot to undermine the Islamic Republic. | Hence, one former beauty queen, photocopying one piece of paper, can be interpreted as part of a wider plot to undermine the Islamic Republic. |
As so often in Iran, there are many more strands to the story, much we will never know. | As so often in Iran, there are many more strands to the story, much we will never know. |
The case of Delara Delabi did not generate the same level of reaction | The case of Delara Delabi did not generate the same level of reaction |
Perhaps the original intention in arresting Ms Saberi was to send a warning to journalists in Iran, foreign and domestic. | Perhaps the original intention in arresting Ms Saberi was to send a warning to journalists in Iran, foreign and domestic. |
There is no doubt that a deep sensitivity exists here about foreign press coverage of Iran. | There is no doubt that a deep sensitivity exists here about foreign press coverage of Iran. |
Every day it is picked over in detail on state TV and the newspapers. | Every day it is picked over in detail on state TV and the newspapers. |
I know my reports are pored over for any factual inaccuracies, or any suggestion of lack of respect towards Iran or its leaders. | I know my reports are pored over for any factual inaccuracies, or any suggestion of lack of respect towards Iran or its leaders. |
Surely the authorities never anticipated the strength of foreign outrage over the case. | Surely the authorities never anticipated the strength of foreign outrage over the case. |
After all, the imprisonment of two distinguished Aids doctors, the Alaei brothers, hardly stirred more than a press release from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. | |
There was not even the same level of reaction for the execution of Delara Darabi. | There was not even the same level of reaction for the execution of Delara Darabi. |
The 23-year-old woman was hanged for a crime allegedly committed while she was still a juvenile, while her appeal was still pending. | The 23-year-old woman was hanged for a crime allegedly committed while she was still a juvenile, while her appeal was still pending. |
Her parents were not even allowed to visit her before she went to the gallows. | Her parents were not even allowed to visit her before she went to the gallows. |
The other suspicion is that Roxana Saberi became a political pawn: her case was used by those trying to block any possible reconciliation between Iran and the United States. | The other suspicion is that Roxana Saberi became a political pawn: her case was used by those trying to block any possible reconciliation between Iran and the United States. |
Again, we shall never know. | Again, we shall never know. |
We do know that Roxana is now safe and free. Her friends around the world are delighted. | We do know that Roxana is now safe and free. Her friends around the world are delighted. |
Her fellow journalists in Iran are wondering who will be next. | Her fellow journalists in Iran are wondering who will be next. |