Nahid Taghavi Returns to Germany After Four Years in Prison in Iran

Maryam Klarn, Nahid Taghavi's daughter, announced on Monday, January 13, that her mother has been released from the prison of the Islamic Republic of Iran after four years and has returned to Germany. Ms. Klarn expressed gratitude on social media to all those who helped her family in the four-year campaign for her mother's release, sharing a photo of herself with her mother. The photo posted on social media appears to have been taken at the airport in Germany upon the arrival of the freed prisoner. Maryam Klarn has asked the media to respect their privacy. Nahid Taghavi, now 69 years old, was arrested by the IRGC Intelligence Organization during a trip to Iran in early autumn 1399 (2020) and was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 10 years and 8 months in prison for allegedly participating in an illegal group, an accusation that Ms. Taghavi and her family vehemently denied. Since her mother's arrest, Maryam Klarn has launched a campaign for her release, garnering support from German officials, including Bundestag representatives in Berlin. Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, wrote on social media on Monday: 'It is a great moment of joy that Nahid Taghavi can finally embrace her family again.' Baerbock reposted a message from Maryam Klarn that included a photo of her embracing her mother, stating: 'It’s over. Nahid is free!' During several short leaves from Evin Prison, Ms. Taghavi was not allowed free movement in Tehran and was fitted with an electronic ankle monitor. However, after Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, sent a message in defense of the protests known as 'Women, Life, Freedom,' Ms. Taghavi was returned to Evin Prison from her last leave. Neither German nor Iranian officials have commented on Ms. Taghavi's release. It is unclear whether Nahid Taghavi's release is part of a deal between Iran and European countries. Last week, the Islamic Republic of Iran released Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist who had been detained for three weeks, sending her back to Italy. Four days after Ms. Sala's return, which was facilitated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's efforts and her negotiations with Donald Trump, Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi was released from detention in Italy and arrived in Tehran on Sunday evening, January 13. Italy had detained Mohammad Abedini at the request of the United States based on an indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice for transferring drone parts to the IRGC, during his flight from Istanbul to Milan last month. The U.S. indictment states that IRGC drones were responsible for the deaths of three American soldiers who were attacked at a U.S. base in Jordan last year. Mohammad Abedini was scheduled to appear in a Milan court this Wednesday to decide on his extradition to the U.S. The release of Nahid Taghavi and Cecilia Sala comes as a new round of nuclear negotiations between the three European countries, known as the Troika, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is set to resume on Monday, January 13. Besides Ms. Taghavi's fate, the issue of Jamshid Sharmeh, a political prisoner executed in Iran who held German citizenship and a U.S. residency card, has long been a point of political contention between the governments of Tehran and Berlin. It is unclear whether Iran has returned Jamshid Sharmeh's body to his family in the U.S. Jamshid Sharmeh, a political activist, was kidnapped by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence from the United Arab Emirates and was taken to Iran two months ago for execution. Iran later announced that this prisoner had 'died' before execution. Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Foreign Minister, referred to three French prisoners in Iranian prisons as 'hostages' last week, stating that their release is crucial for France's relations with Iran. Simultaneously, Switzerland called for a full investigation into the death of one of its citizens in an Iranian prison last Friday. The head of the Semnan judiciary reported on January 10 about the 'suicide' of a Swiss citizen in Semnan prison, referring to him as a 'spy' without naming him. Switzerland acts as the U.S. interests protector in Iran.