Roxana released a statement earlier today: “I would like to join the many other well-wishers around the world in expressing joy at the news that Laura and Euna have been released. The two journalists have shown great strength during an extremely challenging time. Our thoughts and prayers have been with them and will continue to be as they return home, reunite with their loved ones and heal from all they have experienced during these past few months.”

Read the latest news on this development.

While in Paris, Roxana will join Silva’s friends, family and supporters to mark the one-year anniversary of Silva’s imprisonment and urge for her immediate release.

Roxana has described Silva as a source of support and encouragement during their time together in Iran’s Evin Prison.

Silva was arrested when she traveled to Tehran on behalf of her employer, the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), a global nonpolitical NGO, as an administrator of a program that improved healthcare for women and children in Iran.

Visit www.freesilva.org to hear an audio message by Roxana about Silva and to learn more about Silva’s story.

Expect updates on Roxana’s visit to Paris.

“Roxana, when you go back to America,” my cellmate entreated me last month, “please tell others that our country is not only about the nuclear issue. It is also about people like us.”

My cellmate was one of the many “prisoners of conscience” I left behind when I was released from Tehran’s Evin Prison on May 11. Many were women, student and labor activists, researchers, and academics who have been detained solely because they peacefully pursued freedom of expression, freedom of association or religious beliefs. Several of them face vague charges such as “acting against national security,” like I did.

Iran’s hard-liners frequently accuse such people of using “soft warfare” — allegedly in collusion with state enemies, the United States in particular — to penetrate Iranian culture, society and politics. Such “soft threats” are very real, my interrogator declared one day during my 100 days in Evin. Even if the threat of a military attack appears to have subsided under President Obama, he said, Washington will continue using soft warfare to undermine the Islamic Republic and its Islamic ideology.

Tehran has legitimate security concerns. But hard-liners often exaggerate and exploit “soft threats” to tighten their grip on society and to silence critics. This “security-oriented” view has become especially prevalent under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

His victory in 2005 empowered hard-liners who reversed many political and cultural openings made under his predecessor, Mohammad Khatami. The past four years have brought tighter restrictions on books, film and the press; stricter monitoring of the Islamic dress code; and mounting risks of ethnic, political and social activism. Meanwhile, hard-liners have often ignored laws or interpreted them in ways to restrict basic freedoms while monopolizing power.

During this crackdown, dual nationals and Iranians with links to foreigners have been particularly targeted. In 2007, Iranian American scholars Kian Tajbakhsh and Haleh Esfandiari were accused of acting against national security. The next year, Esha Momeni, a graduate student from California, was arrested. She has been released on bail but is still prohibited from leaving Iran.

This year it happened to me.

I was arrested Jan. 31. On my first day in prison, my interrogators claimed that certain foreign academics I had met for coffee were enemy spies and that one was using a student-exchange program to gather intelligence for the United States. My captors claimed that by providing news analysis for TV reports in 2003, I had directly supplied the CIA with information on Iran. They insisted my actions had been a front for intelligence activities.

My interrogators soon made clear that just as Tajbakhsh and Esfandiari had been released after “confessing” to fomenting a “soft revolution” (a charge both denied), I could win freedom if I “confessed” to spying for the United States. I was not a spy, but after enduring increasing pressures, I eventually lied and said that I was. (When I later recanted, my interrogators told me privately they knew from the beginning my “confession” had been false.)

At one point, I shared a cell with Silva Harotonian, who was arrested while working for an American nongovernmental organization on a U.S.-Iran exchange program for health professionals. She had been convicted, along with HIV/AIDS physicians Arash and Kamiar Alaei, of cooperating with the U.S. government to instigate a “soft revolution” — an allegation I could never imagine to be true of the woman I met.

I also got to know two Baha’i female leaders, who along with five male colleagues have been detained for more than a year without trial. While peacefully pursuing the religious rights of Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, they have been accused of spying for Israel and “spreading corruption on earth,” charges punishable by death.

It is not uncommon for “prisoners of conscience” to be detained without due process. Some are freed on exorbitant bail. As in my case, many have limited or no access to attorneys of their choice and cannot study the “evidence” against them. When hearings occur, they usually take place behind closed doors. On top of severe psychological and mental pressures, some are physically tortured, and a few have died in custody.

Iran’s people and civil society have paid the price of this “security approach.” This use of force has failed to address the root causes of social, economic and political issues while individual freedoms and human rights are being violated. Many Iranians have become suspicious of authority and, often, of one another.

How long will this security approach endure? Tomorrow, the people will have a chance to speak up through their votes. While Iran’s presidential elections are not completely free and fair, they are often quite competitive.

The executive branch is one of many forces determining Iran’s policies. But if Ahmadinejad defeats his two main moderate opponents, hard-liners will probably intensify domestic pressures even more during his second term.

Tehran’s ties with Washington will also influence the future. Under the Bush administration, the State Department set up a “Democracy Fund” that many Iranian authorities claimed was a “regime change” policy. Silva Harotonian, the Alaei brothers and many other activists are victims of this reaction.

The Obama administration has been wise to avoid talk of regime change as it makes cautious efforts to improve relations. If these ties significantly improve, Iran’s hard-liners will lose their main pretext for their tight grip on power and society. If they want to continue their clampdown, they will have to find another excuse for their unjust treatment of Iranians like those I left behind in Evin Prison.

The writer, an Iranian-Japanese-American journalist, was sentenced in April to eight years in Iranian prison. She was freed on appeal in May and has returned to the United States, where she is writing a book about her experiences.

Dear Friends/Fans:

First, I would like to personally thank each and everyone of you for signing up as a fan to the page of “Free Laura Ling and Euna Lee (US Journalists Detained in North Korea)”. As we are sensitive not to bombard your inbox with too many messages, we’ll only write to you when we really need your attention.

We are writing to ask for your urgent help to reach the goal of fifty thousand signatures for the UN petition of “Free US Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee” as soon as possible. Here’s a message from Lisa Ling: “We’re so close to 50k, please forward to friends. THANK YOU!”

Please take a moment to sign a petition now:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-euna-and-laura

Please note that you can help by posting news links on the wall of the fans page. If you would like to post a message to the Ling and Lee families, or if you know Laura or Euna, please feel free to post your story under the “Discussion” tab. Here are the direct links:

Sign a petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-euna-and-laura
If you know Laura/Euna: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=113311400873&topic=9232
Write to the family: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=113311400873&topic=9093
Join Fans Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Laura-Ling-and-Euna-Lee-US-Journalists-Detained-in-North-Korea/113311400873

We would appreciate your help of posting the petition link on your Facebook wall and encourage your friends to do the same. Together, we speak as one voice and we hope to bring the two US journalists back home to their families as soon as possible.

Thank you for your help and support.

Elsa Cheung
Free Laura Ling and Euna Lee (US Journalists Detained in North Korea)

Read the interview here.

As a fellow journalist, I am shocked and saddened to hear about the heavy sentence handed to Laura Ling and Euna Lee. I hope that a way can be found to reunite them with their families as soon as possible and I will continue to pray for their swift release.

And here’s Roxana’s statement issued prior to last week’s vigils:

I want to again thank anyone who supported me when I was in Tehran’s Evin Prison. It was in large part thanks to the support of people like you around the world that I was released on May 11th. I will be forever grateful for that support. Without it, I might still be behind bars, just as the many political prisoners I left behind.

I ask you to please extend your support to Laura Ling and Euna Lee, by taking part in vigils for them tonight across the country.

I haven’t been to North Korea, but I understand it is even more of a closed state than the Islamic Republic of Iran. Still, if Laura and Euna’s situation resembles anything like mine, I can imagine a little of what they might be wishing for:

The presumption of innocence until proven guilty. A fair trial, with access to attorneys of their choice and the right to study what is claimed as evidence against them. More contact with their families, whom they probably worry are worrying about themselves!

If Laura and Euna feel as I did when I was in prison, they may also be hoping that their families are not alone at this challenging time – that friends and supporters from the around the world are standing with them in solidarity.

Laura and Euna, I pray that you remain strong and know that neither your families nor you are alone. I hope that a way will be found to return both of you to your families as soon as possible.

Laura and Euna, employees of San Francisco-based Current TV – a media venture founded by former Vice President Al Gore – were arrested March 17 near the North Korean border while reporting on refugees living in China. Both women, accused by North Korea of crossing into the country illegally from China and committing “hostile acts,” were be tried on criminal charges last week.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said charges against two American journalists detained in North Korea for illegally entering the country are baseless and they should be allowed to return home. The U.S. government believes “that the charges against these young women are absolutely without merit or foundation,” Clinton said on ABC television’s “This Week.” Clinton nodded when asked if she’d sent a letter asking for their release. “I have taken every action that we thought would produce the result we’re looking for,” Clinton said. “We hope the trial ends quickly, it’s resolved, and they’re sent home.”

Please join the effort to amp up the noise in support of Laura and Euna.

*NEW* ALLTOP NEWS PAGE ON LAURA AND EUNA
http://laura-and-euna.alltop.com

FOLLOW ON TWITTER
http://twitter.com/liberatelaura

JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60755553149

SIGN THE PETITION FOR THEIR RELEASE (new link)
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/131375038

PETITION FROM ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY (EUNA IS A GRADUATE)
http://www.academyart.edu/petition

PETITION FROM LAURA’S MOTHER REQUESTING THAT
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND SECRETARY CLINTON INTERVENE
http://capwiz.com/democracyforvietnam/issues/alert/?alertid=13504481

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL LETTER TO CHINA
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/actnow/442937/press_china_to_help_free_ling_and_lee

SEEISMIC VIDEO PETITION
http://www.teamjaded.com/2009/06/free-laura-ling-and-euna-lee-video_11.html

WRITE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA*
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

WRITE YOUR SENATOR*
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

WRITE YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS*
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

* LETTER TEMPLATE FROM STAR JONES
http://positivelystar.blogspot.com/2009/06/get-involved-for-laura-ling-and-euna.html

READ AND SUBSCRIBE TO
http://liberatelaura.wordpress.com

Leave a comment if you have any other actions you’d like to have listed here.

Vigils for Asian American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee will be held on Wed., June 3, throughout the country. The two employees of San Francisco-based Current TV – a media venture founded by former Vice President Al Gore – were arrested March 17 near the North Korean border while reporting on refugees living in China. Both women, accused by North Korea of crossing into the country illegally from China and committing “hostile acts,” will be tried on criminal charges on June 4th. Visit the Facebook group for updated information.

The organizers of the vigils hope to help influence a positive outcome for Laura and Euna. Supporters are asked to please bring candles to the vigils.

Vigil Locations

Washington, D.C.
Freedom Plaza
14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

New York, N.Y.
Washington Square Park (The Fountain)
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Chicago, Ill.
Chinatown Square Plaza
Cermack and Wentworth Streets
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Birmingham, Ala.
Linn Park (tentatively)
223 Carrington Lane
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Portland, Ore.
South Park Blocks
SW Park Avenue from Salmon Street to Jackson Street
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

San Francisco, Calif.
Front Steps of San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Santa Monica, Calif.
Wokcano
1413 5th Street
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

National Organizer:
Brendan Creamer
215.699.4338
blove73@msn.com

Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60755553149

]]> http://freeroxana.net/?feed=rss2&p=599 1 http://freeroxana.net/?p=595 http://freeroxana.net/?p=595#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:14:01 +0000 Keith Kamisugi http://freeroxana.net/?p=595 Roxana was kind enough to email me and express her appreciation for the efforts of the FreeRoxana team, one of numerous efforts across the country and the world to raise awareness of Roxana’s terrible ordeal. We embrace her and welcome her home.

I want to thank the following individuals for playing a critical role in this FreeRoxana campaign:

Steve Chin was the first to respond to my call for help with the efffort and was my initial co-blogger after I launched the FreeRoxana.net site.

Craig Gima, Sharon Chan, Lisa Chung, George Kiriyama, Ellen Endo and Janice Lee were the key folks from the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) that provided me with support from that organization.

Alexis Grant reached out to me on her own and I asked her to take the lead on the Twitter account @freeroxana and she did a terrific job with that. Alexis also led the hunger strike effort, which generated a lot of attention and media coverage, further highlighting Roxana’s plight and engaging supporters in expressing their solidarity.

Caroline Cornish Kmack also reached out to me on her own through the Facebook page and I asked her to take the lead on the Facebook page. She also did a terrific job.

Medill student Joseph Freeman and Professors Jack C. Doppelt and Loren Ghiglione offered the invaluable assistance of the Medill School of Journalism family, which organized numerous activities in support of Roxana.

Joe Freeman was the lead blogger for much of the life of this site, keeping up with news and developments and conducting his own interviews on this issue.

Finally Sheamus Burns on his own created the FreeRoxana icon and artwork that really made a difference in attracting attention and helping me better brand the blog, Facebook page and Twitter account.

Roxana is back home in Fargo and we move on to fight other battles.  Numerous other journalists — such as Laura Ling and Euna Lee — are oppressed or imprisioned in other countries. Support them like you supported Roxana so that we can hope to see Laura, Euna and others back home in their own Fargos.

Follow @LiberateLaura on Twitter and subscribe to Richard Horgan’s site at http://liberatelaura.wordpress.com.

Many thanks,
Keith 

]]> http://freeroxana.net/?feed=rss2&p=595 1 http://freeroxana.net/?p=593 http://freeroxana.net/?p=593#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:30:43 +0000 Keith Kamisugi http://freeroxana.net/?p=593

BBC story on Roxana’s arrival in her home town of Fargo, North Dakota, two weeks after being freed from an Iranian jail. Click on the screen capture above or here.