6 May 2009

Alert

Saberi ends hunger strike


Incident details

Roxana Saberi

journalist(s)

appeals

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(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is extremely relieved to learn that Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist who is in a Tehran jail on a spying charge, has ended her hunger strike. The press freedom organisation continues to call for the appeal against her conviction to be given a fair hearing and not any sham proceedings.

When Saberi's parents visited her in Tehran's Evin prison on 4 May 2009, she agreed to begin eating again at her father's insistence and took two spoonfuls of yoghurt. On the evening of 5 May, she confirmed to her parents during a phone call that she had decided to end the hunger strike she began on 21 April. She also expressed her gratitude for the international campaign of solidarity that has been waged on her behalf.

In accordance with Iranian law, Saberi's lawyers filed a request on 5 May for her release on bail before the judge of the 28th chamber of the Tehran revolutionary court.

"The Iranian authorities should respect Roxana Saberi's rights by granting her lawyers' request and releasing her on bail pending the appeal hearing," Reporters Without Borders said.

Iranian judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi announced on 5 May that the appeal would be heard behind closed doors "in the course of next week," with representatives from the prosecutor's office, the intelligence ministry and the lawyers association in attendance.

"This is a travesty of justice," Reporters Without Borders said. "Leading independent figures should be present at this appeal hearing. We call for Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi of the Human Rights Defenders Centre to be allowed to attend."



Source

Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
 

More on this case

Roxana Saberi finally freed 11 May 2009 American journalist Roxana Saberi on hunger strike 29 April 2009 President, chief justice order review of journalist Roxana Saberi's case 23 April 2009 Journalist Roxana Saberi may remain in prison for prolonged period 26 March 2009 CPJ circulates petition for release of American journalist Roxana Saberi 6 March 2009 U.S. journalist Roxana Saberi held at Evin prison 5 March 2009 U.S. journalist Roxana Saberi held in Iran without charge for over a month 3 March 2009

Iran

With 52 journalists in jail, Iran hits new, shameful record 10 March 2010 Two newspapers closed, detained journalists under pressure to request forgiveness 5 March 2010 Hardline conservative journalist attacked 23 February 2010 UN Human Rights Council reviews situation in Iran 16 February 2010 Iran attempts to stifle Internet on anniversary of revolution 12 February 2010


 
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