I recently heard about Roxana Saberi, an American freelance journalist living and reporting from Tehran for NPR, the BBC and other news organizations, who has been detained by the Iranian government for the past month, since January 31: American Journalist Arrested In Iran.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Saberi was detained for engaging in "illegal" activities because she continued working after the government revoked her press credentials in 2006. She was apparently arrested after buying a bottle of wine.
Saberi, who is half-Iranian and half-Japanese, was born in the United States and grew up in North Dakota, where she was a star high school soccer player and pianist. She was even crowned Miss North Dakota in 1997. She was last heard from on February 10, when her father spoke to her.
The circumstances of her detainment are still unclear, and -- surprise, surprise -- the Iranian government isn't really being forthcoming about where, or why, or how long Saberi will be in custody. More here: Radio Reporter From the U.S. Is Held by Iran. And here: Roxana Saberi, Former Miss North Dakota, Journalist, Arrested In Iran.
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