Detained Iranian blogger gets temoporary release

Hossein Derakhshan in Iran

Hossein Derakhshan, Iranian blogger who was detained in Iran since two years ago was finally released last night on a short furlough.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reports that Derakhshan was released on a 1.5 million-dollar bail and the family is hopeful that with the verdict of the appellate court he would not have to return to prison.

In September, Hossein Derakhshan was convicted of “collaboration with enemy states, propaganda against the Islamic regime, propagation of anti-Revolutionary groups, insulting sanctities, launching and managing obscene websites” and sentenced to 19.5 years in prison. His sentence also included five years ban from membership in political parties and journalistic activities as well as return of 30,750 euros, $2,900 US and 200 pounds sterling.

Derakhshan’s lawyer has appealed the verdict but the appellate courts ruling has not been announced yet.

Reporters Without Border has also spoken out against the sentence demanding that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad intervenes to secure the release of Derakhshan. They maintain that in his blogs, Derakhshan used to support the principles of the Islamic system and the policies of Ahmadinejad and his return to Iran was based on assurances from people close to the president that he would not be arrested.

Hossein Derakhshan began his blog outside Iran with an anti-Islamic Republic bent but later began defending the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.