Iranian court hears journalist's appeal
- 00:01:09
- ITN
Iranian court hears journalist's appeal
US-born journalist Roxana Saberi has appealed against her eight-year jail sentence for espionage in Iran. Saberi's lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi said the appeals court had ended a one-day session and would issue its verdict in the coming days. The journalist was convicted by a lower court on April 18 of spying for the US. Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has said Saberi's conviction is a warning to foreign journalists working in Iran ahead of its presidential election in June. The case could complicate Washington's efforts towards reconciliation with Iran after three decades of mutual mistrust. Mr Khorramshahi said: "The court session was held under good conditions and me and my colleague ... were given adequate time to defend our client." He added: "I'm hopeful and optimistic that there will be fundamental changes in the sentence." Saberi's father Reza was not allowed in to follow the proceedings. Last week, he said she had ended a two-week hunger strike in Tehran's Evin jail and was "very weak". The judiciary denied she had refused food and said she was in good health. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said Saberi's case would be reviewed based on "human and Islamic kindness".
ITN | May 10, 2009
