An Iranian court has convicted an American journalist of spying, and has sentenced her to eight years in prison, says her father. Roxana Saberi, 31, was arrested in January for buying a bottle of wine and has been detained since in a notorious Tehran prison. She was convicted on Wednesday, but her family was not notified of the decision until Saturday. Saberi was tried in a Revolutionary Guards court, which operates in total secrecy.

Roxana's father, Reza Saberi said:

"She told me she had been tricked into believing that she would be released if she cooperated. We are very shocked and we were not expecting it."

He added that the family would appeal. Reza Saberi also told National Public Radio, his daugther's employer, that "under pressure she had made some statements" but that she later repudiated any confessions.

US officials have deemed the charges against Saberi as "baseless." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already called for her to be released.

Born to a Persian father and Japanese mother in Fargo, North Dakota, Saberi moved to Iran six years ago, where she filed freelance reports for NPR, the BBC, and Fox News. She also has dual citizenship in Iran and the United States.

She was initially arrested for breaking laws against alcohol, but was charged in March for working as a reporter without proper credentials. Officials said that her press card was revoked in 2006. On April 8, Saberi was charged with espionage.

Her father is afraid for her life. He told NPR: