Iranian human rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi released from jail
Prominent Iranian human rights activists Narges Mohammadi has been released from prison, her husband confirmed on Thursday.
Ismail Sadeghi Niaraki, prosecutor in Zanjan province, said a newly passed law reducing prison sentences included the activist and said she had been released on that basis, according to BBC Persian.
"She was sentenced to 10 years in prison," said Niaraki
"It was reduced and she was released from prison last night after serving eight and a half years in prison."
Mohammadi, who was held in Zanjan Prison in northwestern Iran, was the spokeswoman for the Centre of Human Rights Defenders in Iran.
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Originally serving a six-year sentence dating from 2011, she had been released on bail before being arrested again on new charges in 2015.
The mother of two was then sentenced to 16 years in prison for "forming and managing an illegal group" among other charges, with a minimum of 10 years having to be served.
Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, confirmed the news on Twitter.
"Narges was released from Zanjan prison at three in the morning," he tweeted.
"Wishing freedom for all prisoners."
UN rights experts in July called for Mohammadi's release after she reportedly fell ill with Covid-19, warning her life was at stake.
"The Iranian authorities must act now before it is too late," the 16 independent experts said in a statement.
Iran has released more than 100,000 prisoners since the coronavirus pandemic broke out in March, as a way of reducing infection.
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