Saberi was arrested late January and accused of working without press credentials. It was later kicked up to spying and the trial closed to witnesses. She received a one-day trial in yet another example of arbitrary Iranian justice. Of course, after the Bush Administration, we have little credibility in contesting closed trials or special tribunals in other countries.
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She appeared before an Iranian court behind closed doors on Monday in an unusually swift one-day trial. The Fargo, North Dakota native had been living in Iran for six years and had worked as a freelance reporter for several news organizations including National Public Radio and the British Broadcasting Corp.
“Saberi has been sentenced to eight years in jail. I’ll definitely appeal the verdict,” lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi told The Associated Press. It was not immediately known when she was convicted.