Prominent reformist, Saeed Hajjarian released

Saeed Hajjarian

Saeed Hajjarian, one of the most prominent detainees of the post-election events, was released today from Evin prison according to Mehr news agency. The news has been confirmed by head of Tehran prisons.

Mr. Hajjarian, who is often referred to as the architect of the reform movement in Iran, was arrested on June 16 following protests against the outcome of the presidential elections.

In 2000, when he was a member of Tehran city council, he was shot in the head in an assassination attempt and became severely disabled. His physical health has been an issue of consistent concern for his family and physician.

In the fourth mass trial of the post-election detainees, Mr. Hajjarian was presented in court. In a statement which he had allegedly wrote, he recanted all his previous political theories and withdrew his membership from the reformist organization the Islamic Iran Participation Front which had supported MirHosein Mousavi in the presidential elections. The statement had to be read by a fellow detainee since Mr. Hajjarian’s speech is impaired from his head injury.

Reformist organizations and political figures maintain that the confessions televised from these mass trials have all been obtained through torture and coercion.

Mr. Hajjarian is accused of “activities against national security, fraud in the elections, ties to foreign elements, undermining the legitimate government, cooperation with British and anti-revolutionary Iranian networks and slandering the supreme leader and government officials.”

Several other members of the Islamic Iran Participation Front are still in prison.