Roxana Saberi's father talks of his 'nightmare'

As you’re reading this, a young Iranian-American journalist called Roxana Saberi is alone in Evin prison in Tehran, waiting to find out her fate.

I met Roxana Saberi a few years ago – dynamic and full of enthusiasm, she was just the kind of person who wouldn’t give up despite the myriad obstacles the Iranian government likes to cast in the path of any reporter. Eventually, they withdrew her press credentials but she stayed on, doing a Masters degree in Iranian Studies and researching a book.

Today I called her father, Reza, who lives in Fargo, North Dakota. “When I spoke to her on Monday she didn’t sound terrribly good,” he said. “She said life in prison is psychologically challenging.” (That sounded like an understatement.) “We told her to hang on, and not give in. The whole world is with her,” he said.

Last week the Iranian authorities suggested that she’d be released soon. But Reza is worried that if they don’t set her free within the next three days, it’ll be Iranian New Year, and nothing is likely to move for two weeks.

Roxana has high profile supporters. “I am very concerned about this young woman,” said US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. “We have pressed very hard. We will continue to do so.”

Who knows why Roxana was arrested? There was talk of her buying a bottle of wine – a crime under Iranian law – or continuing to work as a journalist despite having her credentials withdrawn. Maybe she said something which annoyed someone powerful. Maybe she’s just a pawn in the game of power relations between Iran and America.

Whatever it is, she’s held without charge or trial, with no access to TV, radio or newspapers, cut off from the outside world, with only the occasional visit from her lawyer.

“It’s a nightmare,” said her father.

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