Saronaz Ahmadi, children's rights activist, released conditionally from Evin Prison

Saronaz Ahmadi, a children's rights activist who was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on charges such as propaganda against the regime, has been conditionally released from Evin Prison. Sudabeh Balali, Saronaz Ahmadi's mother, wrote in an Instagram note on Sunday evening, January 9: "She has been released; after one year and nine months of imprisonment, today Saronaz's conditional release was approved." Photos and videos of Saronaz Ahmadi's release from Evin Prison have been shared on social media. Ms. Ahmadi had been on medical leave outside of prison for a short period about two months ago for treatment and then returned to Evin Prison. Ms. Ahmadi was arrested in May 2023, just before International Workers' Day, along with several labor and union activists at the home of Mohammad Habibi, a teachers' union activist. The 15th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court initially sentenced her to six years in prison on charges of "propaganda against the regime" and "gathering and colluding to disrupt national security"; this sentence was reduced to three years and six months on appeal. Saronaz Ahmadi was also imprisoned during the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests and was later released on bail. Ms. Ahmadi holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences in Tehran. Kamiar Fakour, her husband and a labor activist, was also released from Evin Prison about two months ago after serving one and a half years, with the remainder of his sentence converted to "open verdict."