American Journalist Released From Iran

Don't get me wrong. The release of Roxana Saberi is monumental. But this is ONE small step for a nation that believes humans are the private property of Islam. How this is a "sign of moderation" is beyond me. Even the article acknowledge that perhaps her release was motivated by election-year politics.

Analysis: Hint of moderation in American's release

By BRIAN MURPHY, Associated Press Writer Brian Murphy, Associated Press Writer Mon May 11, 5:59 pm ET

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The judicial reversal that led to the release of an Iranian-American from prison in Tehran on Monday could now offer hints of moderation by Iran's ruling Islamic clerics — making room for possible overtures by the Obama administration.

The release of Roxana Saberi may also seek to boost hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's goodwill credentials before next month's re-election challenge from reformers.

"It was certainly in the interest of Iran to close this case," said Nadim Shehadi, a Middle East analyst at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. "No one wanted this to linger on."

Shortly after the journalist was detained in Iran in late January, President Barack Obama was busy sharpening his appeals for Tehran's leaders to "unclench their fist" and move toward greater dialogue with Washington.

Saberi's release — after an appeals court suspended her eight-year prison sentence on charges of being an American spy — ended a showdown that threatened to bring an abrupt halt to the overtures at thawing a nearly 30-year diplomatic freeze.

But it's far from the only detention drama that had complicated possible wider Iran-U.S. engagement.

Ahmadinejad made less-than-subtle comparisons between Saberi's appeals fight in Iran's courts and Tehran's demands for the freedom of three Iranians who have been detained in Iraq since a 2007 raid by U.S. forces.

Tehran claims the three are diplomats, but the U.S. military has raised possible links to Iran's Revolutionary Guard — the powerful military force under direct control of Iran's Islamic rulers. Saberi's release could increase pressure by Iran for Washington to free the detained Iranians or publicly substantiate the allegations.

U.S. lawmakers, meanwhile, have pressed the Obama administration to demand answers from Iran about an ex-FBI agent who was last seen on Iran's Kish Island in 2007 as he investigated cigarette smuggling for a client of his private security firm.

But the timing of Saberi's release — a month before the June 12 national elections in Iran — suggests pragmatic objectives by Iran's rulers, some analysts say.

It appears to signal to Washington a sense of stability and willingness to move forward on possible exchanges after the elections — and perhaps seek ways to ease Iran's standoff with the West over its nuclear program.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the Obama administration insists that Saberi was wrongly accused, "but we welcome this humanitarian gesture."

The decision also gives Ahmadinejad a chance to soften his image before facing reformist challengers at the polls.

Ahmadinejad's direct sway of judicial affairs is extremely limited, but his supporters in the ruling establishment hold that power. Saberi's release handed Ahmadinejad a key opportunity to appear merciful and in tune with the ruling elite.

Last month, Ahmadinejad urged Tehran's chief prosecutor to ensure Saberi be allowed a full defense during her appeal.

"Ahmadinejad perhaps sensed that the appeal might go in Saberi's favor because of the intense international pressure," said Mehrzad Boroujerdi, a researcher in Iranian affairs at Syracuse University. "He's learned well how to take advantage of political opportunities. This could work in his favor in the elections."

Ahmadinejad faces two reformist candidates in his bid for a second four-year term, but neither of the challengers appear to have yet tapped into the crucial youth vote that carried former President Mohammad Khatami.

"The regime has a great deal to gain at the moment by appearing moderate," said Ilan Berman, an Iranian affairs specialist at the American Foreign Policy Council.

He believes Iran's leaders worried that a prolonged dispute over Saberi could backfire by widening the divide with moderate Iranians who favor some level of dialogue with Washington.

"The thing the regime most worries about — even more than being taken to task by the West over nuclear development — is any political decision that exposes the very deep fault line between the people and the regime," Berman said. "The Saberi case was beginning to look very counterproductive for them and it was time to end it."

It wasn't too long ago when we were reading headlines and news articles such as this one here:Iran: Woman sentenced to death by stoning

Tuesday, 13 December 2005

Stop human rights dialogue with mullahs, refer Iran human rights file to Security Council The state-run daily Hamshahri wrote on December 11, that the clerical regime's judiciary had condemned a woman identified only as Masoumeh and resident of Varamin (near Tehran) to death by stoning. This is the second person sentenced to death by stoning in the past two months. More than 110 persons have been hanged or sentenced to death since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office. Several victims were under 18 years of age at the time of the alleged offence. Yesterday, European Union foreign ministers met in Brussels and issued a statement expressing concern at the deteriorating state of human rights in Iran, stressing that the EU will "pursue other means" to voice its concerns, such as referring the regime's human rights file to the United Nations. However, more than just statements are needed to confront a regime that continues to condemn victims to death by stoning sentences, executes minors, and carries out inhumane punishments such as limb amputations. The increasing human rights abuses in Iran should be referred to the UN Security Council. Trade and diplomatic ties with the regime should be contingent upon improvement in the situation of human rights in Iran. The EU must abandon human rights dialogue since dialogue has only encouraged the mullahs to continue and step up repression in Iran. Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran December 13, 2005