A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Possible Good News in Saberi Case?

A rare weekend post to note this BBC report that Ahmadinejad is saying Roxana Saberi didn't have a fair trial. Charging reporters with espionage is an old and bad habit in the Middle East, and Iran's harassment of Iranian-Americans such as Haleh Esfrandiari and now Roxana Saberi is certainly an obstacle to better relations. If this story pans out and it leads to Saberi's freedom, it will be an interesting gesture given the source. (He is, of course, up for re-election, and this could be an interesting signal — of something, but I'm not entirely sure what. Moderation? A gesture to Obama in return for Obama's gestures to Iran? Some internal Iranian political maneuver that isn't obvious to outsiders?)

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