Mohammad Seddigh Kaboodvand, the jailed founder of the Kurdistan Defence of Human Rights Organization, has been given a four-day furlough on bail of seven-billion rials.
The spokesman for the Kurdistan Defence of Human Rights Organization confirmed the reports, adding that efforts are underway to extend Kaboodvand’s leave.
The human rights activist was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 10 years in jail for the charge of “acting against national security by establishing the human rights organization” and another year for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic regime.”
Since his incarceration, he has applied for temporary leaves on several occasions but had always been turned down.
Many international human rights organizations have spoken out against his incarceration and called for his release. His health complications have been of great concern to activists, and Human Rights Watch has repeatedly called for his release so that he may get adequate medical care.
Kaboodvand has gone on a hunger strike on several occasions to protest against his situation in prison.
Kaboodvand has also been the recipient of several human rights awards in the past years including, the Hellman-Hammet prize from Human Rights Watch and the International Journalist of the Year award in 2009 from the British Press Awards.
