Schiff Lauds Release of Iranian-American Journalist Roxana Saberi

Schiff Lauds Release of Iranian-American Journalist Roxana Saberi

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Schiff, Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press, lauded the release of Iranian-American Journalist Roxana Saberi.  Ms. Saberi has lived and worked as a freelance journalist in Iran since 2003.  In January, she was arrested for buying a bottle of wine, which is illegal in Iran.  Later charged with spying, she was sentenced to 8 years in prison in April.  However, today an appeals court reduced her sentence and freed her to return to the United States.

“I am elated to hear the news of her release,” said Schiff.  “The charges against Ms. Saberi were baseless, and her trial was a sham – lasting less than an hour. Unfortunately, journalists all around the world find themselves falsely imprisoned like Ms. Saberi, and the problem is widespread. I remain committed to promoting freedom of the press by putting on center stage those countries in which journalists are killed, imprisoned, kidnapped, threatened, or censored.  Ms. Saberi and her colleagues provide a critical service to the public, and we must do all we can to raise awareness of the dangers they face in their profession.”

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