An court in Iran has cut US-Iranian reporter Roxana Saberi's jail sentence to two years suspended, and will free her later on Monday, her lawyer says.

The court heard Ms Saberi's appeal against her original eight-year prison sentence on Sunday, after an international outcry.

She will be able to leave the country but has been banned from working as a journalist in Iran for five years.

Ms Saberi was convicted of spying for the US in April but denies the charge.

The case sparked international attention and protests calling for her to be released. US President Barack Obama was among those who appealed on her behalf.

Washington has no diplomatic ties with Tehran, but said contact was made through Swiss intermediaries to determine whether Ms Saberi was being treated well.

There was also concern from within Iran: film director Bahman Ghobadi, whose work has won prizes in Cannes and Berlin, said Ms Saberi was a victim of Iran's "political games".

Her father Reza expressed joy at the ruling and said he and his wife Akiko were on the way to collect Roxana Saberi from the jail, describing her as "practically free"

It was only a matter of time.

She should be glad she wasn't hanged without a chance for appeal.

ElRazur:

It was only a matter of time.

She should be glad she wasn't hanged without a chance for appeal.

Abi O! She was very lucky indeed. Bro hw u dey?

Macteejay2:

Abi O! She was very lucky indeed. Bro hw u dey?

I'm good.

People have been hanged for lesser things. A woman recently - last week- got hanged. The manner and handling of her death sentence was questionable. But hey, this is iran.

I suppose with this case, the whole world was watching and they knew something had to be done. First she was charged with reporting without license or something similar, and all of a sudden in a closed tribunal, Charged with counts of spying and then straight to jail lol. Even naija will probably do better lol.

But she is of dual citizenship. Having said that, Iran do not recognise dual-citizen ship. And for the purpose of this trial, she was tried as an Iranian. But I guess the US recognised her and hence the interest and indirect pressure?

I been following her journey on CNN. Glad 2 know that she is gonna be release. Her parents must be happy!!

and they wonder why virtually the whole world is against them

how can u decide to hang someone on a notion?

bluespice:


how can u decide to hang someone on a notion?

She's not the only Iranian American in Tehran, you can't just hang someone on a whim or notion, haba.
They were being nice to Obama when they released her, they believed she was a low level CIA operative.

ElRazur:

But she is of dual citizenship. Having said that, Iran do not recognise dual-citizen ship. And for the purpose of this trial, she was tried as an Iranian. But I guess the US recognised her and hence the interest and indirect pressure?

Anybody see the contradiction here?

ElRazur, can you clarify?

RichyBlacK:

Anybody see the contradiction here?

ElRazur, can you clarify?

Erm. She's an American-Iranian according to reports. However, Iran do not recognise dual citizenship - which in this case may allow US to lobby for her - and hence she was tried as an Iranian instead.

Is that good enough for you?

She's lucky she was born in the US. She would have been hanged by now.

ElRazur:

Can RichyBlack at least come back say something?

RichyBlack doesn't criticize the following countries.

Iran, Russia,Cuba and Venezuela.

You must be new around here.

I knew she was going to be released by the Iranian authorities in the long run., thats the benefit of having american citizenship.Kudos to the world press for highllighting her situation. A big blow to The Iranians

bawomolo:

RichyBlack doesn't criticize the following countries.

Iran, Russia,Cuba and Venezuela.

You must be new around here.

bawomolo:

RichyBlack doesn't criticize the following countries.

Iran, Russia,Cuba and Venezuela.

You must be new around here.

I am giving him the benefit of "being new around here" lol.

I honestly do not see the contradiction he is claiming I have made. He's asked me to re-explain and I did, yet he wont say nothing anymore,  Only that I do not see how I contradicted myself in the first place.

davidylan:

She's lucky she was born in the US. She would have been hanged by now.

Thank God for Hillary!

Richy Black, aint you gonna say 5hit?