Posted on 04/19/2009 8:03:52 AM PDT by fiscon1
Nearly two months ago, Roxana Saberi, a citizen of both Iran and the United States, was arrested by Iranian police. When she called her family, she told them that the charges were relatively mild, buying alcohol illegally. She expected to pay a small fine and be released within hours. What started as a minor incident has turned into tragedy. Today, Saberi was convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison.
(Excerpt) Read more at theeprovocateur.blogspot.com ...
Note to self, don’t go to Iran. I mean really, what American in their right mind would just go off to that God forsaken country? I don’t care what she wanted to learn about her heritage, some people just don’t think.
Anyone want to lay odds she’ll die of an “accident” while in prison?
Not too long ago, a female Canadian journalist was trumped up on bogus charges, jailed and died (probably after a severe beating).
Iranian president is probably laughing at Obama now.
People get outraged when pirates take Americans hostage, but when a hostile government does it, they blame the victim.
Well... I see what you’re saying.. but the ships getting hijacked are working, they aren’t there for the fun of it.
Anybody that and 1. U.S. citizen and 2. female should probably guess that going to Iran isn’t the brightest idea, for any reason. Just a thought is all.
I’m Iranian, I am going to Iran because it is my heritage!
Gets arrested...
I’M AN AMERICAN I’M AN AMERICAN!!!!!!! YOU CAN’T ARREST ME! I’M AN AMERICAN!
FWIW, America has used journalists and students as spies, as has every other country.
I have no idea whether this lady had a relationship with US intelligence, but it is not logical to just assume that the charges are completely bogus.
“a citizen of both Iran and the United States”
When did USA start allowing dual citizenship? I feel for the girl - but she CAN’T be BOTH!
She lived there for six years without a problem. This is all about Iran trying to prove that the US is a paper tiger. They wouldn't have tried this crap when Bush was President.
I find the fact that the charges changed from 1) buying a bottle of wine, to 2) not having press credentials, to 3) espionage, to be a good indication that espionage wasn't the actual crime.
I think your perception that FReepers blame the victim because she was taken hostage by a hostile gov’t. as opposed to pirate is grossly incorrect. You yourself point out that she lived there for 6 years without a problem. Honestly, how long do you need to live there to absorb the culture? I think it might be legitimate to believe that she was a spy. I wonder if buying alcohol illegally was part of her duties.
So spies in this country have never been arrested on minor charges and on investigation be determined to be engaged in espionage and charged accordingly?
We obviously have spies in Iran, or at least I hope we do, yet the immediate assumption is always that any charges of spying must by definition be untrue.
I don’t trust the Iranian government any more than I would trust Baghdad Bob, and I don’t doubt they have few qualms about falsely charging this young lady, but I also don’t see how we can just assume the charges are untrue.
Unlike you, I’m not willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, particularly when everything I’ve seen to this point tells me they’re trumped up charges.
Well I dunno, theres that former FBI fellow that been missing for months, nothing has been done..
Is this the same female journalist who got arrested for being in the country illegally or is this another one?
I’m sorry, but those women knew exactly what their fate would be upon entering the country. No, it’s not right by American thought but that isn’t America. Thinking she could get by with it just because she can claim she’s half Iranian is plain stupidity.
Yeah. You've got a point there about it not just coinciding with the change in President.
That point aside though, I'm still just as disgusted with the reaction of people suggesting that she somehow deserved her fate as I was with the lefties suggesting that the US deserved the 9/11 attacks.
I am truly sorry for this lady. Lack of response sometimes means: What more can we do?
I think high profile journalists are safe there. Otherwise, people should stay out.
She willingly went there, requested to be a part of their country, and agreed to abide by their laws.
US law does not prohibit dual citizenship. Such persons can have passports from both countries, though they must use a US passport to leave and enter the US.
From the State Dept. website:
A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth.U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.
A number of European countries allow grandchildren of immigrants to the US to become citizens. Some people find this to an advantage when traveling with the European Union. See here.
The only way someone can lose US citizenship (assuming they are not naturalized, in which case it can be lose it and be deported if one lied on your application), is to renounce it. The procedures for renunciation are here.
Hope this helps.
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