Saberi, freed from Iran jail, thanks backers

Wednesday 13th May, 04:26 AM JST

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kinniku at 05:23 PM JST - 13th May

Saberi, who holds American and Iranian citizenship, had copied the report “out of curiosity” while she worked as a freelance translator for a powerful body connected to Iran’s ruling clerics, said the lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht.

If she was not spying, that was an amazingly silly thing to do! It is not like she was a tourist visiting the country after all. Talk about getting too comfortable!

I haven't seen it anywhere yet, but how did her copying something two years ago come to light this year?
likeitis at 06:57 PM JST - 13th May

Saberi admitted that she copied the document two years ago but said she didn’t pass it on to the Americans as prosecutors claimed.

Why would she pass it on? I am sure she knows how a fax machine works!

I have avoided commenting too much on this one until some evidence came along. Copying a confidential military related report is a whopper. And yet, those dastardly Iranians are releasing her.

I expect the usual suspects to, rather than admit that the Iranians are not all bad after all, tell us this is just further evidence of how crazy they are. Or, to just say silent until until the good gesture is forgotten.
kinniku at 08:08 PM JST - 13th May

Why would she pass it on? I am sure she knows how a fax machine works!

Fax machines often have logging functions which would be able to show where it was sent. Also, it is possible to look up what numbers have been dialed. So, it would be more secure to discreetly pass it on.

And yet, those dastardly Iranians are releasing her.

What Iran did was a good thing in releasing her. I agree. I also agree what she did was not smart, whether she was spying or not. However, let us not forget other prisoners in Iran who have not had their cases re-heard.

Having said that, I agree 100% that Iran is not all bad (obviously Iranians are not all bad as they are regular human beings just like the rest of the world). Hopefully this will let people know that and the relationship between the US and Iran will improve.
likeitis at 08:26 PM JST - 13th May

Fax machines often have logging functions which would be able to show where it was sent. Also, it is possible to look up what numbers have been dialed. So, it would be more secure to discreetly pass it on.

Yeah, but don't spies have the kind that self-destruct? Oops! I am sorry. Obviously she is no spy, obviously.

Maybe a good old-fashioned scan and e-mail? Using hotmail of course.
kinniku at 08:44 PM JST - 13th May

Actually, two things leads me to the possibility that she was not a spy. She was initially arrested in January for buying a bottle of wine (which is illegal in Iran). Then she was imprisoned because of her not having the correct visa (this can also happen in Japan) and last month she was charged with spying. Now, she either have to be a really bad spy or a sudden alcoholic to take a chance and buy illegal alcohol in Iran. In addition, she would make sure to get the appropriate visa so as not to attract undue attention. That she made these two mistakes leads me to think she was possibly not a spy.

Oh...and the fact that she didn't have the self-destruct fax/computer ;-)
LoveUSA at 09:17 PM JST - 13th May

Iranian government did not use torture waterboarding etc and released her. Somebody has to learn from this of course.
Madverts at 09:28 PM JST - 13th May

Hmmmm, I'm surprised to see that afterall there was some actual evidence here but I'm sure those dining on crow right now won't be commenting.

It almost makes Iran seem reasonable, until you think about that poor artist girl they hung last week.
likeitis at 10:06 PM JST - 13th May

Madverts: It almost makes Iran seem reasonable, until you think about that poor artist girl they hung last week.

23 year old girl? Who was naturally hung for being an artist right?

The little detail you don't mention is that the charge was no less than murder.

But I have no doubt the Iranian courts are messed up about the guilt though, maybe even in both cases. But unfortunately, I guess she did not have as much political value as Roxana.
Madverts at 10:11 PM JST - 13th May

"The little detail you don't mention is that the charge was no less than murder."

A murder she denied, and was then executed in secret, after a stricken telephone call to her mother.

Heh, that's some people you're denfending.
unscrejects at 01:48 PM JST - 14th May

Selective attention to detail. The press sucks in this story. She was freed because of one thing only- JAPAN! The Japanese minister of foreign affairs personally did the talking for her. Iran needs Japan.