Iranian authorities have released several political prisoners from Evin Prison in anticipation of Fitr Eid, the culmination of the Muslim month of Ramadan.
The Fars news agency reports that the Tehran Prosecutor has announced that Ayatollah Khamenei has agreed to the release of 100 prisoners held on security charges. The report adds that many of the freed prisoners were among those detained in 2009 during the controversial protests that followed the disputed election victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The Kaleme opposition website has reported that many of the released prisoners were in fact on the verge of completing their prison sentences and many more were becoming eligible for release after serving half their sentences because they did not have any former criminal record.
The Tehran Prosecutor stated, however, that the prisoners had in fact released because they had “called for mercy and expressed regret” for their actions.
Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi also said that 70 prisoners had already been released and more would follow in the coming days.
