TEHRAN: Iran has released more than 700 prisoners after the national team’s World Cup football victory over Wales, the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said Monday.
It announced that “709 detainees were freed from different prisons in the country” following the 2-0 victory on Friday.
Among those are “some arrested during the recent events,” Mizan Online said, making indirect reference to demonstrations which have shaken Iran for more than two months.
It gave no further detail.
The ongoing protests were triggered by the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, after her arrest by morality police for an alleged breach of Iran’s strict dress rules for women.
Other Iranian media separately reported that prominent Iranian actor Hengameh Ghaziani had been released on bail after her arrest for having supported the protests.
Two of the most prominent figures detained over the demonstrations — former international footballer Voria Ghafouri and dissident Hossein Ronaghi — were also let out on bail, reports said.
State news agency IRNA reported on Monday that former state television host Mahmoud Shahriari, 63, had been released after two months in prison for “encouraging riots.”
Iran on Friday scored twice deep into stoppage time to stun Wales and breathe new life into its World Cup campaign ahead of a politically charged showdown Tuesday against the United States.
Iran lost its first World Cup match to England, 6-2.
Iran’s judiciary says more than 2,000 people have been charged since the start of the protests.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk last week said around 14,000 people have been arrested.
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Iran frees hundreds after World Cup win over Wales
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Iran frees hundreds after World Cup win over Wales
- 709 detainees were freed from different prisons in the country
- Prominent Iranian actor Hengameh Ghaziani had also been released on bail
Outcry as French journalist held for covering Istanbul protest
The French foreign ministry said it hoped Boukandoura would be “freed as quickly as possible,“
Police broke up the protest, arresting 10 people, including Boukandoura
ISTANBUL: A French journalist arrested while covering a pro-Kurdish protest in Istanbul remained in police custody on Tuesday, prompting growing calls for his release, including from France’s government.
Raphael Boukandoura, who works for various French publications, including well-known outlets Liberation and Courrier International, was detained late Monday at a protest over a military operation targeting Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.
Boukandoura has lived legally in Turkiye for at least a decade and holds an official press card.
In a statement to AFP, the French foreign ministry said it hoped Boukandoura would be “freed as quickly as possible,” indicating its diplomats in Turkiye were “closely monitoring the situation.”
At the protest, called by the pro-Kurdish party DEM, party officials called for “an immediate halt to the attacks” and the protection of civilians in northeastern Syria.
Police broke up the protest, arresting 10 people, including Boukandoura.
Two weeks ago, Syrian government troops launched an offensive against Kurdish-led forces — an operation publicly welcomed by Turkiye, despite its own efforts to pursue a peace process with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
According to the rights group MLSA, Boukandoura told police he was present strictly as a journalist and covering the protest for the French daily Liberation.
Erol Onderoglu of media-rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described the detention as “arbitrary.”
“Boukandoura is not a protester, and he cannot be treated as a criminal simply because he is a journalist, he is performing a public service,” he told AFP.
“This grave injustice must be reversed.”
Liberation, along with Courrier International, Mediapart, and Ouest-France — other outlets that have published Boukandoura’s work — all issued statements calling for his immediate release.
France’s National Union of Journalists (SNJ) also urged Turkish authorities to free him, saying he was “simply doing his job.”
“Freedom of information is a fundamental right,” the union said.
Police broke up the protest, arresting 10 people, including Boukandoura
ISTANBUL: A French journalist arrested while covering a pro-Kurdish protest in Istanbul remained in police custody on Tuesday, prompting growing calls for his release, including from France’s government.
Raphael Boukandoura, who works for various French publications, including well-known outlets Liberation and Courrier International, was detained late Monday at a protest over a military operation targeting Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.
Boukandoura has lived legally in Turkiye for at least a decade and holds an official press card.
In a statement to AFP, the French foreign ministry said it hoped Boukandoura would be “freed as quickly as possible,” indicating its diplomats in Turkiye were “closely monitoring the situation.”
At the protest, called by the pro-Kurdish party DEM, party officials called for “an immediate halt to the attacks” and the protection of civilians in northeastern Syria.
Police broke up the protest, arresting 10 people, including Boukandoura.
Two weeks ago, Syrian government troops launched an offensive against Kurdish-led forces — an operation publicly welcomed by Turkiye, despite its own efforts to pursue a peace process with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
According to the rights group MLSA, Boukandoura told police he was present strictly as a journalist and covering the protest for the French daily Liberation.
Erol Onderoglu of media-rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described the detention as “arbitrary.”
“Boukandoura is not a protester, and he cannot be treated as a criminal simply because he is a journalist, he is performing a public service,” he told AFP.
“This grave injustice must be reversed.”
Liberation, along with Courrier International, Mediapart, and Ouest-France — other outlets that have published Boukandoura’s work — all issued statements calling for his immediate release.
France’s National Union of Journalists (SNJ) also urged Turkish authorities to free him, saying he was “simply doing his job.”
“Freedom of information is a fundamental right,” the union said.
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