Iran releases Austrian man from prison

Iranian authorities have released an Austrian who was jailed in the country’s northeast, the judiciary said Tuesday.

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Austria had in October 2022 confirmed that one of its citizens had been arrested in Iran on charges “unrelated” to a wave of protests that rocked the Islamic Republic at the time.

“Austrian citizen Christian Weber, imprisoned in West Azerbaijan province, was released from prison in accordance with Islamic mercy,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.

The website said Weber had been convicted after “committing crimes” in Iran, but did not specify what those crimes were.

“After his release, the convict was handed over to the Austrian ambassador for his departure,” it added.

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Austria’s foreign ministry said it was “relieved” over Weber’s release which it said took place Monday.

It added that its embassy was working on ensuring that “he can leave Iran as quickly as possible”.

“Several administrative steps still need to be taken with the Iranian authorities, in which the embassy is actively supporting him,” the ministry said in a statement.

Months-long nationwide protests shook Iran following the September 2022 death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurd Mahsa Amini.

Amini had been arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women, requiring them to cover their head and neck and wear modest clothing in public.

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Her death triggered months-long protests in Iran, with hundreds of people, including dozens of security personnel, killed in the unrest. Thousands of demonstrators were arrested.

Weber’s release came a day after Iran marked the second anniversary of Amini’s death.

Several other Europeans are still being held in Iran including at least three French citizens.