Iran Frees Political Prisoners on Eve of President’s Visit to U.S.
Source: New York Times
TEHRAN On the eve of a visit by Irans moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, to the United States, the Iranian authorities on Wednesday unexpectedly freed 11 of Irans most prominent political prisoners, including Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer.
Analysts said the prisoner release was a significant step in Mr. Rouhanis efforts to repair Irans relationship with the West, mired in a dispute over Irans nuclear program and criticism of its human rights policies. His visit to New York to attend the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly is part of a diplomatic offensive he began after his election in June.
Ms. Sotoudeh, who was serving six years in prison for acting against national security and went on a 49-day hunger strike last year, said in a telephone interview after her release: I dont know why they released me. I dont know under what legal basis they released me. But I am free.
Of the prisoners freed on Wednesday, eight are women and three are men. They include a journalist, Mahsa Amrabadi, whose husband and fellow journalist, Masoud Bastani, remains in prison. Some of them were taking part in Irans 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.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/19/world/middleeast/iran-frees-political-prisoners-on-eve-of-presidents-visit-to-us.html?_r=0
Sand Wind
(1,573 posts)And that fact that they do not have a impartial judicial system.
Celefin
(532 posts)They are moving in the right direction... are repeated signs of good will now a bad thing?
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)Not saying Iran is better by any stretch but just pointing out ours has issues just like there is all.
Left Coast2020
(2,397 posts)..opening up further dialogue between the U.S. and Iran. Makes me think of the 1980 Grover Washington-Bill Withers tune.
What could the gas-bags on Cluster Faux and Friends possibly say about the U.S. talking with Iran?
Oh, the phrases are endless.
Aristus
(66,462 posts)That's what they'll say.
For those fuckheads, anything short of Hiroshima is appeasement. They want blood, and they don't care whose...
Behind the Aegis
(53,988 posts)Something is up; not sure what it is, but I like where it seems to be going.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,988 posts)Ash_F
(5,861 posts)There will be aggressive pushback and propaganda from right wingers as they start losing grip, which happens in any country, but Iran has been moving this way for years.
Behind the Aegis
(53,988 posts)But I think this one will have a much happier ending. While the government certainly hasn't been moving toward any sort of free movement, the people have. I think the right-wingers will find themselves outnumbered this go around, and with a more moderate voice coming from the true leadership of the country, some really positive things may happen.
jessie04
(1,528 posts)Moderate is a real relative word.
Don't believe any words...only actions.
cheapdate
(3,811 posts)Ash_F
(5,861 posts)ReRe
(10,597 posts).... that that other short, winger dude they had (not going to attempt to spell his name) was their version of GWB administration. Glad to hear moderation coming out of Iran for a change.