Iran frees jailed human rights activist
TEHRAN – Iran has freed human rights campaigner Emadeddin Baghi after he served a year-long jail term on charges of spreading "propaganda against the regime," Arman daily reported Tuesday, quoting his lawyer, AFP reported.
Baghi was sentenced in July 2010 to a one-year jail term and was banned for five years from political activities for "propaganda against the regime," according to his lawyer Saleh Nikbakht.
The award-winning journalist was arrested on December 28, 2009, a day after opposition supporters took to the streets in a new round of protests against the controversial June 12 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The 49-year-old, who was honoured with the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for human rights activism in 2009, has been campaigning against the death penalty.
He also received in 2005 the French Award for Human Rights for creating an association dedicated to defending prisoners rights in Iran.