New York – Roxana Saberi (Medill ’99) presented her recently released narrative “Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran” to an audience of more than 300 in the TimesCenter at The New York Times offices Monday night.

The book, released last week, details her experiences reporting and researching in Iran and her 100 days spent in Evin Prison for allegedly spying for the U.S. government.

Medill Dean John Lavine, who introduced Saberi at the event organized by the Medill Club of Greater New York, said she was someone who “makes a dean’s heart glow.”

Saberi then participated in a question-and-answer session with New York Times columnist Roger Cohen.

Saberi, who is of Iranian and Japanese descent, spent six years in Iran, where she had dual citizenship with the U.S. before she was arrested last January. After a false confession, which she later recanted, and an eight-year prison sentence, Saberi was released May 11.

Saberi recognized the support she received while in prison, which included a Northwestern-organized FreeRoxana campaign.

While she stressed the importance of open dialogue with Iran to promote peaceful nuclear disarmament, Saberi’s main focus was more personal.

“Human rights should always be a first-tier issue,” she said.

– Kirsten Salyer