Possibility of Majid Tavakoli's Release Following Three-Day Leave

Majid Tavakoli, a prominent figure in Iran's student movement, has been granted a three-day leave from prison, just 20 days before the end of his sentence. The news website Kalemeh, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, reported on Tuesday, April 31, that Tavakoli's unexpected leave may be linked to his release. Tavakoli's Facebook page, managed by his relatives, shared a photo of him at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport with the caption: 'Majid Tavakoli is on his way home after his release.' It was also mentioned that 'Majid has been granted a three-day leave from Rajai Shahr Prison.' However, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran stated that Tavakoli was released under Article 134 of the new Islamic Penal Code. Tavakoli was arrested on December 6, 2009, following a speech criticizing Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and was unable to take any leave for four years. During this time, the city of Trondheim, Norway, awarded him the Student Peace Prize for his efforts to promote peace, democracy, and freedom. A plaque bearing his name was also unveiled on one of the streets in Trondheim. The charges against Tavakoli included 'gathering and colluding against the regime', 'propaganda against the regime', 'insulting the leadership', and 'insulting the then President', for which the judge of Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court sentenced him to a total of eight and a half years in prison. This sentence was upheld in the appeals court. However, with the implementation of Article 134 of the new Islamic Penal Code, the grounds for Tavakoli's release after five and a half years have been established. This legal provision states that if an individual is charged with multiple offenses, only the charge with the heaviest sentence must be enforced.