Iran charges US-born reporter with espionage
Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:32:51 GMT
American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi, who was detained in Iran for working without a permit, has been charged with espionage.
Iran's deputy prosecutor for security issues Hassan Haddad said Wednesday that Saberi had confessed to having engaged in espionage activities under the guise of a reporter.
"She conducted spying operations in the country by passing herself as a journalist. She has accepted all charges and we have documented the evidence in her legal case papers," said Haddad.
Haddad added that Saberi's case is slated to be sent to the revolutionary court.
The 31-year-old, who reported for the BBC, NPR, and Fox News during her six-year stay in Iran, was arrested in January for working "illegally" as a journalist after her press card was revoked in 2006.
Saberi holds both Iranian and American nationalities, but Haddad said that her US citizenship would not affect the legal proceedings of her case, largely because Tehran does not recognize dual-nationality.
"She entered the country as an Iranian citizen and holds Iranian residency, passport and national identity card. Even if she has another citizenship, it will not affect the way we will proceed with her case," he said.
Saberi's arrest comes at a time when espionage activities against Tehran have reached a new height.
Iranian security officials made high profile arrests of a number of spies and operatives in the country in recent months.
SBB/MMN