Iranian court sentences U.S. journalist to 8 years - Los Angeles Times

I would certainly advocate on her behalf and would be delighted to do what I could in her defense.

Similarly, I would surely join those who ask simply that she be released.

That said, how do we know that the charges are unfounded and unproven?

Imagine an Iranian-American arrested in this country on charges of spying. Would the Iranians not be in good order to demand her or his release in a similar fashion, assuming that the charges could not possibly be valid?

I think we need to understand a lot more about this case, and give the Iranian's every opportunity to explain why she was convicted before we jump to conclusions about guilt or innocence or potentially unnecessarily insult the legal system in Iran.