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One of Iran’s most outspoken human rights activists, released on Monday, has told Amnesty International that his freedom isn’t the end of the story, because many Iranians remain unjustly imprisoned. When freed, Baghi said he told the other prisoners "although I am going, half my existence is still imprisoned with you".

 Emadeddin Baghi was released after serving two concurrent one-year jail sentences for "propaganda against the state”. One related to his founding of the Association to Defend Prisoners' Rights and the other to an interview broadcast by the BBC. He was also banned from any political activity for five years. A further five-year prison term was overturned by an Appeals Court, although he spent an extra 19 days in prison.

"We are of course delighted that Emadeddin Baghi has been released, but he should never have been in prison in the first place as he was a prisoner of conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and association in his human rights work and journalism," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director.

Prisoners on hunger strike

Before his release, Baghi had been among several prisoners who went on a hunger strike to protest against the deaths of two prisoners of con... >>>