Women’s rights activist Nahid Taghavi, released from an Iranian prison, with daughter Mariam Claren, January 12, 2025


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German-Iranian women’s rights activist Nahid Taghavi has returned to Germany after more than 4 years in custody in Iran.

Taghavi’s familiy and Amnesty International, which had reported on the activist’s torture and solitary confinement, announced her release late Sunday.

Taghavi’s daughter Mariam Claren posted:

Taghavi, an architect living in Cologne, Germany since 1983, was seized by security forces in October 2020 during a visit to Iran. In August 2021, she was condemned to more than 10 years in prison for spreading “propaganda” and for “membership of an illegal group”.

More than 30,000 signatures were gathered in Germany seeking her release, with demonstrations in Berlin, Cologne, and other cities.

“My mother is finally home,” Claren said. “Mere words can’t describe our joy. From Berlin to Tehran: your solidarity helped to achieve justice.”

She added, “Many more non-violent political prisoners like my mother are still in Iranian jails. The impunity of the Iranian authorities must come to an end.”

Last year Iranian authorities reported the execution of a German-Iranian US resident, Jamshid Sharmahd. A week later, they said he died just before he was scheduled to hang.