Iranian journalist temporarily released after 180 days

Emadeddin Baghi

Iranian journalist and human rights activist, Emadeddin Baghi was temporarily released by Islamic Republic authorities after 180 days in prison.

His personal website announced that Baghi was released after a medical check up and upon posting $200,000 in bail.

Emadeddin Baghi has spent 150 days of his imprisonment in solitary confinement. His family has been gravely concerned for his health since he suffers from respiratory as well as back problems.

Reportedly his trial is set for July 3rd but his charges have not been fully announced. He is one of the many journalists that have been arrested in the protests following the controversial elections and the disputes over the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Baghi is also the founder of the Association for the Defense of Prisoner Rights.

Baghi has been arrested twice before for charge of “assembly and collusion with attempt to disrupt national security” and sentenced to a year in prison.

This time round he was arrested following the Ashura Day protests in December 2009.

Emadeddin Baghi was awarded the International Journalist of the Year award in 2008 and the Civil Courage Prize from the Parkinson’s Foundation in 2004 as well as Martin Ennals award in 2009.

He is also the author of 29 books amongst them the controversial The Tragedy of Democracy in Iran. The book examines political assassinations in Iran and has been banned by the Iranian judiciary.