Even her fellow journalists have been slow to support her. I was recently on a BBC radio program. The topic under discussion: whether the Western media are unfair to Iran. Most of those on the program said they thought so. There were complaints, too, about "anti-Iranian prejudice" in America. I raised Saberi's case. The show's moderator was not interested.
On April 28, four members of Reporters Without Borders, a left-leaning press freedom advocacy organization, began a hunger strike in Paris in solidarity with Saberi. Kudos to them, but allow me to offer a modest suggestion: Reporters Without Borders should organize journalists, writers and artists around the world - indeed, everyone who cares about freedom - to fast for at least a day in support of Saberi.
One day without food to focus the world's attention on 30 years of Islamist oppression (at least five other writers and editors are currently imprisoned in Iran), cruelty toward Iran's minorities (including Baha'is, Kurds and homosexuals); its proxy death squads in Iraq; its expressions of genocidal intent toward Israel; and its illegal drive for nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them.
Exerting such pressure could be particularly useful now since the regime has promised to review Saberi's sentence -- again, in a hearing closed to the press and public. And perhaps a grass-roots protest might inspire European governments to belatedly demonstrate a little backbone - to recall their ambassadors, send Iran's diplomats packing, and impose serious sanctions until such time as Iran's rulers behave in a more civilized manner. Maybe the United Nations would demand they meet their obligations under the UN Charter and other international agreements.
I know: When pigs fly over Tehran.