Sunday
May102009
UPDATED Iran: Court Hears Roxana Saberi Appeal
Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 6:42 
UPDATE (10 May): Roxana Saberi's appeal process began Sunday. Spokesman Alireza Jamshidi assured that the appointment of three judges, rather than one, meant "more attention will be paid and the process would be meticulous". He also confirmed that a decision is likely on Monday or Tuesday.Iran's Press TV has confirmed the news, given to CNN by her father, that the journalist's appeal against an 8-year sentence for espioange will be heard Sunday. Saberi's lawyer, Abdolsamad Khoramshami, said:
Tomorrow at 9:00 am (0430 GMT), branch 14 of the appeal court will have a hearing. "We expect that our defense, which has been submitted to the court in 15 pages, will be heard carefully. I do hope and I am optimistic she will be acquitted.
The decision of the appeals court is expected on Monday or Tuesday. Saberi, who holds American and Iranian nationality, was initially detained in January for buying a bottle of wine. The charges then escalated to working without a journalist's license, and then spying.