Roxana Saberi to Begin Hunger Strike

The pressure is on.She is now a bargaining chip in the Great Game.

George, what we want to know is 'is the WH continuing the Bush policy of covertly disrupting Iran's uranium enrichment capability?' The NYT had reported that there was a covert program under the previous admin to do just that.

And the follow up-

" How does that square with the President's new policy pronouncement in Trinidad that "It should be the policy of the U.S. not to interfere in other countries"?
Is he making an exception only for Latin America?

President Ahmadinejad said, "Let's see if our judiciary allows for that, sure. But if they do not allow for that, no. I am afraid not,"? And does he really believe that WE (Americans) believe he has NO say in Roxana's journal, if any, through the 'judiciary'? I guess I was misinformed; I wasn't aware that the 'judiciary' ran the country of Iran. Can you imagine President Obama requesting to enter, only to be turned away from a jail or prison in the United States??? I'm sorry, but I have nothing but disdain for the man. He might think the rest of the world will buy his bag of goods or 'tongue dance' but, thank God, I was born and educated in the greatest country in the world; I can read extremely well between the lines. P.S. Another great interview, George - even though I can't stand even looking at the man!!!

Good, hopefully she'll die from it.

The United States has the highest per capita prison population in the world, with a disproportionately high number of black prisoners. Most black prisoners are in jail for "crimes" no white person would be arrested for.

Why isn't ABC news reporting on any of them?

Yet another messy foreign policy situation for Obama to deal with. tight spot...

http://www.political-buzz.com/

I hope she doesn't do that... it only hurts her and not anyone else... she needs to stay strong so she can fight this outrageous claim and sentence.

"with a disproportionately high number of black prisoners"

No kidding...if they'd stop committing crimes, that number would be alot lower.
Surely you agree with that.

How many in those prisons are REPEAT offenders?

I won't argue that black men have gone to prison for a crime a white man hasn't.But, if you think that is the reason our prisons are full of black men, I'm afraid you've missed the whole story.

I really don't care what color our violent offenders are...I don't discriminate against thugs, white, black or brown.

For those in for dope...I'm against locking up for possession anyway.
That would keep alot of them out of jail, but give us a break with your ' its all against the black man' stuff.

I guess you missed the last US election in prison?

The girl is shrewd...hunger strike ratches up the pressure on the U.S. to do something if the media runs with this

Gee, I can't imagine the Iranians force-feeding her...since we announced we would close down gitmo and renounced 'torture', we have the moral high ground, right Mr. President?

I think Iranian leadership went gaga; they could not accept the fact that this very beautiful, articulate lady has a very different, more enlightened world view then they will ever have. So they throw her in prison to make her submit to their world view, and use her as a bargaining chip.

J House do you live on a different planet? Just because America elected a black president means this is the end of racism?

Now talking about black and white men in prison you definitely do not know what you are talking about. How many times have unarmed blackmen been shot and killed by police? Compare that to the number of white men if ever something like that has happened before. Then you`d understand better.

I cannot believe someone was so crass as to say he hoped Roxana Saberi would die from her hunger strike. Sick, childish, hateful... I'll stop now before I drop down to his level.

Amid the backsliding of centuries since the Islamic Revolution, anything western, anything “open,” anything only faintly “American,” is regarded as evil—so much so, it is necessary for me to consult my notes to recall, and believe, the respect I received in those days solely because I was an American.
I posted an impassioned open letter to Roxana from her fiance, filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi. Everyone should read it to be reminded what these nefarious political games do to decent people. Hope you'll see, and take to heart, "Free Roxana" at www.sonofthecucumberking.com

I'm seventeed years old from NZ. I've been working with Amnesty international since I was 12 and have been running my school group since I was 14. For our next meeting we're focussing on Roxana Saberi. This case is sickening. I think the person who said they hoped she dies from starvation absolutely epitomises the attitudes that create situations such as Roxana's. I strongly encourage any readers to visit Amnesty's page for Roxana,freeroxana.net or my website www.revolutionnz.webs.com to take action- it's as simple as writing a letter. infact, its as simple as adding your name to the bottom of a pre-written one. You may not think it, but your letters combined with the thousands of others from all around the world, and hopefully around 100 that will be written at our next meeting all stack up and do actually make a difference. If the iranians know the worlds eyes are upon them, then they, like so many others who have stood in the way of justice will feel the pressure and have no choice but to free her.

I'm not american but i have faith in you and your country (well most of the time ;p) so please just add your name and help to free this amazing woman!

=)
Kera O'Regan
Editor revolution webmag
Social Justice Leader Marist College, Auckland, NZ
Supporter of Roxana Saberi!

I'm seventeed years old from NZ. I've been working with Amnesty international since I was 12 and have been running my school group since I was 14. For our next meeting we're focussing on Roxana Saberi. This case is sickening. I think the person who said they hoped she dies from starvation absolutely epitomises the attitudes that create situations such as Roxana's. I strongly encourage any readers to visit Amnesty's page for Roxana,freeroxana.net or my website www.revolutionnz.webs.com to take action- it's as simple as writing a letter. infact, its as simple as adding your name to the bottom of a pre-written one. You may not think it, but your letters combined with the thousands of others from all around the world, and hopefully around 100 that will be written at our next meeting all stack up and do actually make a difference. If the iranians know the worlds eyes are upon them, then they, like so many others who have stood in the way of justice will feel the pressure and have no choice but to free her.

I'm not american but i have faith in you and your country (well most of the time ;p) so please just add your name and help to free this amazing woman!

=)
Kera O'Regan
Editor revolution webmag
Social Justice Leader Marist College, Auckland, NZ
Supporter of Roxana Saberi!

please excuse typos ^^

please excuse typos ^^

It's so sad when anyone even jokingly wishes someone else was dead. Those thoughts hurt you as much as anyone else. You obviously don't know Roxana. I do, and she is a sweet, kind person, and for someone to say such a thing is mind-boggling. I'm guessing you, Alex, are Iranian and not American - I hope so, because I don't want to live in the same country you do.

Unfortunately President Ahmadinejad does not have the control in his country that our American President has. He is anwserable far less to the people and much, much more to the religious leaders of the country. Quite the reverse of our political system. This is true of many foreign countries and we need to recognize this. For any appeal to truly work we must appeal to the 'proper' authorities.

I bet you had a big meal sitting at crazy Ahmad's table in her memory didn't you?

Americans generally don't appreciate the complexity of the multi-headded hydra that is the Iranian government. In all likelihood Roxana Saberi is a pawn, not of Iran-U.S. conflict, but of internal Iranian power politics ahead of their elections. The effect of external pressure may therefore not be productive, at least until after the elections.
Kera O'Regan: Sorry about the ignorant loonies infesting the comments above. I wouldn't take them as characteristic of American attitudes at all. Best wishes to you!

Let's face it: She knew the country she was in and she knew how things worked there. As far as Iran is concern she is an Iranian citizen, they don't recognize duel citizenship--she had to know that. Her press creditials expired in 2006--she should have left the country THEN! Now Iran is going to milk this for all its worth to get any concessions out of the U.S. just because some stupid woman didn't leave Iran when she was supposed to! Ridiculous!

P.S. This country doesn't need this right now.. I hope she rots!

Roxana Saberi is not a Patriotic American Citizen who got arrested by the Evil Iranians.

Roxana has been living in Iran for six years, holds dual passports and is using her American identity to protect her now that she is in trouble with her Iranian identity. Her press credentials expired in 2006 and have not been renewed so it's clear she is no journalist.

We should not waste an ounce of American blood or effort defending her and she should be stripped of her American citizenship immediately.

Saberi was caught trying to purchase information regarding Iran's nuclear program so it's clear what her intentions were. Roxana knew very well what she was doing in Iran and now she is paying the price for it.

Thank you for sharing this update on Roxana’s story; this has been getting a lot of attention – and deservedly so. My heart goes out to her and her family, especially because I can so easily relate to them: my cousin and close friend, Silva Harotonian, has also been imprisoned in Evin, the same jail as Roxana. For many months now, I have been working to raise awareness of Silva’s tragic situation in Iran.

Silva, an Iranian citizen of Christian Armenian descent, recently held a modest role with a humanitarian organization working to improve child and maternal health in Iran. But then, on June 26, 2008 her life changed completely when she was arrested by Iranian authorities. A victim of circumstances, they say that she was conspiring with the U.S. to start a “soft revolution.” In January 2009, she was sentenced to three years in jail – and she’s still there today after her appeal was denied in April. Silva does not have one political bone in her body. All she wanted was to help others and give back to her society.

To this day, we are still trying to put together the puzzle of her arrest. I want to share this story with all of you in hopes of raising public awareness of our efforts to bring Silva home; if you’re interested, you can help us by signing an appeal to ask for her release.

I pray for the safety and release of Silva, and any other person who has been unfairly detained in Iran, and thank you again for sharing this story.

-Klara