Responding to a letter from Roxana Saberi , the Iranian-American journalist who spent four months in an Iranian jail earlier this year , the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom ( USCIRF ) demanded the seven prisoners be freed rather than stand trial on charges of espionage and religious violations . Seven leaders in detention to face trial Saturday , could face death penalty . U.S. panel on religious freedom urges their release , calling the ` ` baseless '' The seven leaders are accused of spying for political and religious offenses . Rights groups say the seven have spent a year in jail without access to lawyer .
Seven leaders in detention to face trial Saturday , could face death penalty . U.S. panel on religious freedom urges their release , calling the ` ` baseless '' The seven leaders are accused of spying for political and religious offenses . Rights groups say the seven have spent a year in jail without access to lawyer .