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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Iran court hears reporter appeal | Iran court hears reporter appeal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A court in Iran has heard an appeal from jailed US-Iranian reporter Roxana Saberi, two days earlier than expected. | |
| Ms Saberi's lawyer said it was not clear when a ruling would be announced, but said he was optimistic of a change to the 32-year-old's sentence. | Ms Saberi's lawyer said it was not clear when a ruling would be announced, but said he was optimistic of a change to the 32-year-old's sentence. |
| Ms Saberi was convicted earlier this year of spying for the US - a charge she denied. | |
| The case sparked international concern and US President Barack Obama has appealed on her behalf. | The case sparked international concern and US President Barack Obama has appealed on her behalf. |
| Appeal process | Appeal process |
| Roxana Saberi was brought into court wearing long black robes. | Roxana Saberi was brought into court wearing long black robes. |
| She had visibly lost weight from the hunger strike that she only recently ended, says the BBC's John Leyne in Tehran. She smiled, but she also looked a little bewildered. | She had visibly lost weight from the hunger strike that she only recently ended, says the BBC's John Leyne in Tehran. She smiled, but she also looked a little bewildered. |
| Unlike her original trial, the legal process this time was arranged to appear fair and open, our correspondent says. | Unlike her original trial, the legal process this time was arranged to appear fair and open, our correspondent says. |
| I'm hopeful and optimistic that there will be fundamental changes in the sentence Abdolsamad KhorramshahiMs Saberi's lawyer | I'm hopeful and optimistic that there will be fundamental changes in the sentence Abdolsamad KhorramshahiMs Saberi's lawyer |
| The appeal lasted several hours, far longer than the original trial. | The appeal lasted several hours, far longer than the original trial. |
| While the hearing was still not open to the public, Ms Saberi's appeal was heard before a panel of three judges, with representatives of the Iranian Bar Association present. | While the hearing was still not open to the public, Ms Saberi's appeal was heard before a panel of three judges, with representatives of the Iranian Bar Association present. |
| Both Ms Saberi and her defence team were given a chance to speak. | Both Ms Saberi and her defence team were given a chance to speak. |
| Lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi said he had submitted 15 pages of documents in support of the appeal for Roxana Saberi . | Lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi said he had submitted 15 pages of documents in support of the appeal for Roxana Saberi . |
| "I'm hopeful and optimistic that there will be fundamental changes in the sentence," he told journalists. | "I'm hopeful and optimistic that there will be fundamental changes in the sentence," he told journalists. |
| Before the hearing began, Ms Saberi's father said he believed the case would be handled "more moderately" this time. | Before the hearing began, Ms Saberi's father said he believed the case would be handled "more moderately" this time. |
| Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has urged the court to give Ms Saberi her full legal rights. | Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has urged the court to give Ms Saberi her full legal rights. |
| Details of the evidence against her have still not been made public, but some legal officials have said they hope the appeal court will reconsider Ms Saberi's eight-year sentence, which even for the crime of spying is considered very severe. | Details of the evidence against her have still not been made public, but some legal officials have said they hope the appeal court will reconsider Ms Saberi's eight-year sentence, which even for the crime of spying is considered very severe. |
| The appeal was initially scheduled for Tuesday, and it is not known why the hearing was brought forward. | The appeal was initially scheduled for Tuesday, and it is not known why the hearing was brought forward. |
| Spy charges | Spy charges |
| Ms Saberi has been held in Tehran's Evin prison since January. | Ms Saberi has been held in Tehran's Evin prison since January. |
| Her family said she spent two weeks on hunger strike after the sentencing was announced, but began to accept food again earlier this week. | Her family said she spent two weeks on hunger strike after the sentencing was announced, but began to accept food again earlier this week. |
| The journalist originally faced a less serious accusation of buying alcohol, and later of working as a reporter without a valid press card. | The journalist originally faced a less serious accusation of buying alcohol, and later of working as a reporter without a valid press card. |
| Soon after, the spying charge was introduced, and she was tried and sentenced behind closed doors by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. | Soon after, the spying charge was introduced, and she was tried and sentenced behind closed doors by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. |
| Ms Saberi, who holds dual US and Iranian citizenship, has spent six years in Iran studying and writing a book. | Ms Saberi, who holds dual US and Iranian citizenship, has spent six years in Iran studying and writing a book. |
| She has worked as a freelance journalist for news organisations including the BBC and the US-based National Public Radio. | She has worked as a freelance journalist for news organisations including the BBC and the US-based National Public Radio. |