Iranians Charge ELCA College Alumna With Spying

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- When a Lutheran college in northwest
Minnesota chose a commencement speaker for May graduation, it
tapped alumna Roxana Saberi. The former Miss Dakota soared as a
journalist, filing reports from Iran for the BBC, National Public
Radio and others.
Even after Iranian officials arrested Saberi and put her
into its notorious Evin prison in January, the college held out
hope that she'd be released in time for its graduation
ceremonies. Those hopes dimmed April 8 after Tehran's deputy
prosecutor charged Saberi with spying.
"None of us can imagine being in Roxana's circumstance,"
said Dr. Pamela M. Jolicouer, president of Concordia College,
Moorhead, Minn. Concordia is one of 28 colleges and universities
in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
"I have a lot of confidence in her," Jolicouer said. "This
is a woman who has composure, conviction and a great deal of
intelligence."
Jolicouer declined to discuss details of the college's
contingency plans for a commencement speaker.
"We have an alternative plan that we think will be very
appropriate," she said. "But we don't want to announce it because
we are still hopeful that Roxana will be here."
Saberi was born in the United States and grew up in Fargo,
N.D., with her Iranian father and Japanese mother. Six years ago
she moved to Iran, which revoked her press credentials in 2006.
"She, without press credentials, was carrying out spying
activities under the guise of being a reporter," an Iranian
prosecutor told news agencies. Her case has been sent to an
Islamic revolutionary court, he said.
Under U.S. law Saberi is an Iranian-American national. Iran,
however, doesn't recognize dual citizenship and regards her only
as an Iranian citizen.
Saberi's parents were allowed to visit with her for the
first time a few days ago. Her father told the ELCA News Service
in March that she had also been writing a book and attending
school in Iran. She planned to move back to the United States
"for good" by May. He said he didn't know his daughter's
religion.
"I have so much empathy for her parents," Jolicouer said.
"I just sent them a note asking if there's anything we can do
to help."
Tracey Moorhead, a Concordia administrator, noted the
"incredible community of friends, concerned people and
journalists" advocating for Saberi's release. Among those
advocates are U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and
U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., an ELCA member.
The U.S. severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 1979 in
response to the Islamic Revolution. President Barack Obama has
said he wants to improve relations.
"All of us want Roxana to come home safe and to come home
soon," Jolicouer said. "We hope it will be by commencement, but
we'll take her any time. This is a wonderful young woman whom we
care about."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog