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| Iran frees Iranian-Canadian journalist on bail |
| 2009-10-18 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari, arrested after the disputed presidential election in June, has been freed on bail, Iran's judiciary said on Saturday. "Maziar Bahari was freed from Evin prison on Saturday evening after paying bail worth three billion rials ($300,000)," the semi-official news agency ILNA reported, citing Tehran's prosecution office. Bahari, who has been working for Newsweek magazine since 1998, was arrested on June 21 in Tehran while covering the election and post-election unrest. He was charged later with espionage, and could face execution if convicted. Previously, a lawyer acting for Bahari said in July his client was accused of having acted against Iran's national security. Canada has repeatedly asked for his immediate release. Opposition leaders say the election was rigged to secure the re-election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iranian authorities have denied the allegation. The opposition says more than 70 people were killed in the unrest, more than double the official estimate. Rights groups say thousands of people were detained after the vote. More than 100 people, including former senior officials, remain in jail. |
| Posted by:Fred |