Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Iran Releases Ali Shakeri from Evin Prison
United Republicans of IranFor a Democratic and Secular Republic
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.iranrepublic.org
international@jomhouri.com
September 25, 2007
Iran Releases Ali Shakeri from Evin Prison
United Republicans of Iran welcomes the release of Ali Shakeri by the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was taken into custody 4 months ago in Mehrabad International Airport while waiting to board a plane to come home. He had gone to Iran to visit his ailing mother who passed away a few days after seeing his son for the last time. He was never charged with any crime and to this date no reason has been given as to the cause of his arrest.
Ali Shakeri’s release from prison is happy news. However, URI expects the Islamic Republic of Iran to return Mr. Shakeri’s passport and allow him to return to his family.
In recent months, two other Iranian-Americans who were detained by the authorities were released after posting huge sum of money. Scholars, Haleh Esfandiari was allowed to leave Iran after posting $300,000 bail while Kian Tajbakhsh was released after paying some 100,000 bail. He still remains in Iran with uncertain future. One other Iranian-American, Parinaz Azima, a reporter with Radio Farda, was allowed to leave Iran after the authorities returned her passport.
By the arrest of these individuals, the Iranian Government has made an impossible decision for the Iranian community who otherwise had plans to visit Iran.
We expect the Iranian Government as a member of the United Nations and signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to adhere to the principles of this covenant which in article 13 states that: “Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”
We expect the Iranian Government, as a member of the United Nations and signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has to adhere to it which in article 13 states: “Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”
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