October 25-2013
Six more political prisoners—including a supporter of the Mojahedin-e Khalq—were freed from Evin prison Octover 13 to add to the 14 freed earlier this month, according to the Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Thirteen of the previous 14 were released on pardons issued by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenehi. The 14th was apparently freed by the Judiciary at its discretion since he had almost completed his term.
It isn’t known on what basis the six freed most recently were released.
Most surprisingly, one of those freed was a supporter of the Mojahedin-e Khalq, according to HRANA. Mohammad Gholam Nejad had been sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of supporting the group.
Of the others:
• Mostafa Badkubei had been arrested after the presidential elections in 2009 for writing poems critical of President Ahmadi-nejad and was sentenced to 18 months of prison. He started to serve the sentence November 21, 2012.
• Bahador Alizadeh and Farzad Rouhi were sentenced to four years and to 3 1/2 years respectively on charges of blasphemy and propaganda against the regime.
• Ali Nemati was arrested on a charge of spying and was detained in Evin still awaiting trial when he was freed.
HRANA provided no information on the sixth man to be freed, Mohammad Eshaghabadi.