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LequteMan
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On the eve of a visit by Iran’s moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, to New York for the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Iranian authorities on Wednesday unexpectedly freed 11 of Iran’s most prominent political prisoners as part of a diplomatic offensive started in order to repair relations with the West.
According to The New York Times, eight women and three men were freed.
They include Nasrin Sotoudeh, a popularly known and respected human rights lawyer who won The Sakharov prize last year.
Ms. Sotoudeh was serving six years in prison for endangering national security and misusing her profession as a lawyer. In a telephone interview after her release, she said: “I don’t know why they released me. I don’t know under what legal basis they released me. But I am free.”
A journalist, Mahsa Amrabadi, was also released. However, her husband and fellow journalist, Masoud Bastani, remains in prison.
Some of the prisoners were taking part in Iran’s prison leave system, in which some prisoners are allowed to live at home but remain under the threat of imprisonment if they cross the authorities. But dozens of people remain in prison, especially those who have been sentenced for their roles in an antigovernment protest after the disputed 2009 election results.
Analysts said the prisoner release could soften some of the criticisms over Iran’s human rights policies and allow for Mr. Rouhani to focus on finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran’s disputed nuclear program.
According to The New York Times, eight women and three men were freed.
They include Nasrin Sotoudeh, a popularly known and respected human rights lawyer who won The Sakharov prize last year.
Ms. Sotoudeh was serving six years in prison for endangering national security and misusing her profession as a lawyer. In a telephone interview after her release, she said: “I don’t know why they released me. I don’t know under what legal basis they released me. But I am free.”
A journalist, Mahsa Amrabadi, was also released. However, her husband and fellow journalist, Masoud Bastani, remains in prison.
Some of the prisoners were taking part in Iran’s prison leave system, in which some prisoners are allowed to live at home but remain under the threat of imprisonment if they cross the authorities. But dozens of people remain in prison, especially those who have been sentenced for their roles in an antigovernment protest after the disputed 2009 election results.
Analysts said the prisoner release could soften some of the criticisms over Iran’s human rights policies and allow for Mr. Rouhani to focus on finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran’s disputed nuclear program.
