Iranian dissident Farhad Meysami has been released – judiciary
He was released this week, after his supporters warned that he was in danger of dying for protesting the mandatory wearing of the hijab.
Images of a malnourished Meysami, who had been imprisoned since 2018 for supporting women activists protesting Iran’s headscarf policy, went viral on social media, causing an uproar among netizens and international rights groups.
Following the approval of the recent amnesty by the leader of the revolution (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei), Farhad Meysami was included in the amnesty.
Then, he was released from prison hours ago, according to a tweet from the judiciary.
Ayatollah Khamenei tendered an amnesty on Sunday for a large number of prisoners, some of whom were arrested during recent anti-government demonstrations.
Iran has been rocked by nationwide unrest since the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini on September 16 in police custody.
Amini was apprehended by morality police for violating the hijab rules, which demands women to dress conservatively and wear headscarves.
In the protests, women have played a pivotal role, with many flapping or igniting their headscarves.
According to rights groups, well over 500 protesters have been killed and nearly 20,000 have been detained.
According to the legal system, at least four people have been executed by hanging.
Washington’s special envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, tweeted, “Shocking images of Dr. Farhad Meysami, a courageous advocate for women’s rights on hunger strike in prison.”
Amnesty International stated, “These images are a disturbing warning of the Iranian government’s disdain for human rights.”
Meysami had demanded three things in a letter: an end to death sentences, the discharge of political-civil prisoners, and an end to “forced-hijab harassment.”
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