Nahid Taghavi, a German-Iranian activist,has been released from Iranian custody after more than four years. She was sentenced to 10 years in jail for allegedly spreading propaganda against the state and for involvement in an illegal group. She claims to have been tortured and held in solitary confinement for months.
Taghavi, an architect, was arrested in October 2020 during a visit to Tehran. She wound up in the notorious Evin Prison, where she spent seven months in solitary confinement. In a trial in which she had no attorney, she was convicted and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed the release on X, formerly Twitter, calling it a moment of great joy. Why the release came about now, and whether there was compensation from Germany is unknown. Nahid Taghavi is now recuperating with her family. At the airport she pointed out that human rights violations in Iran continue.