As the world’s 6th leading jailer of journalists and a country which frequently ignores international standards for treatment of its religious and ethnic minorities, such an arrest does not come as a surprise as publicity grows over human rights issues in the country.  

Although Ms. Saberi’s press credentials were revoked in 2008, she had been allowed to continue to make brief radio reports.  Saberi has been living in Iran since 2003 where she is working to complete a master’s degree in Iranian studies and international relations.

In a radio interview on NPR her father said that he had been able to speak with her over the phone while in custody on February 10th and that her purchase of a bottle of wine the day of her arrest last year was being used as an excuse since that is not typical for such a crime.

Update – March 3, 2009: An article today on CNN.com reports an Iranian official as saying: ”Without a permit, she should not have been engaged in news and information gathering in Iran.”