Iran Releases Swedish Nationals

A011753710.jpgIranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini said here on Monday that the two Swedes who had been condemned to two years of imprisonment for violating the Islamic Republic’s law were released. According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Bureau, Hosseini said the decision to pardon the two followed demands from their family members and the frequent follow-ups by certain Swedish politicians and was adopted in line with humanitarian beliefs and values of the Islamic Republic.

He also said that the two Swedish inmates who were arrested after their illegal acts and sentenced to two years of imprisonment were pardoned to show Islamic affection and kindness.

The two Swedish citizens will be released at 18:00 hours local time (14:30 GMT) in the presence of the vice chairman of the foreign policy commission of the Swedish parliament, director of the Iranian foreign ministry’s department for central and northern Europe and other officials and reporters of course.

During the last 8 months, the vice chairman of the Swedish parliament’s foreign policy commission has paid three visits to Iran to discuss bilateral ties, parliamentary cooperation and release of his two country mates.

During his meetings with the head of Iran’s judiciary power and other officials, Ahlin always voiced satisfaction with the conditions of the two Swedish inmates and called for their freedom.

The two were arrested on charges of espionage and were sentenced to two years of imprisonment and their term started on March 21, 2006.

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