Temporary Release of Key Activists Keyvan Samimi and Alireza Beheshti Shirazi from Prison

Reports from Iran indicate the release of Keyvan Samimi and Alireza Beheshti Shirazi, two civil and political activists, on bail from prison on Monday, May 22. Mostafa Neyli, Keyvan Samimi's lawyer, tweeted that the head of the Association for the Defense of Press Freedom has been released from Evin Prison and added that his court session, concerning the 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' conference, is scheduled for June 28. Keyvan Samimi, 74, who is the editor-in-chief of the magazine 'Nameh', was released last Bahman after two years in prison. He was arrested shortly before the 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' conference on May 1 of this year. Additionally, it is noted that Keyvan Samimi was arrested on charges of 'contacts with anti-revolutionary groups'. Before his arrest, he had recorded his speech that was played at the conference. Meanwhile, Sadra Beheshti Shirazi, the son of Alireza Beheshti Shirazi, announced his father's release. Alireza Beheshti Shirazi, a political activist and advisor to Mir Hossein Mousavi, was arrested by security forces on May 26 following his remarks at the 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' conference. Before his arrest, he stated at the conference that the window for reforms is completely closed and that Iran is on the brink of change. A group of political activists inside and outside Iran held a two-day virtual 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' meeting on the social media platform 'Clubhouse' on May 1. It was announced that of the 42 participants in this conference, 23 were from inside Iran (of which 9 are in prison) and 19 were from outside Iran. Following this, several speakers at the conference were summoned by government agencies, including Aliyeh Matlabi, Ghorban Behzadian Nejad, and Hashem Aghajeri. Aliyeh Matlabi was summoned to Evin Prosecutor's Office; agents searched her house with force. Hashem Aghajeri was summoned to the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Efforts by judicial authorities to inform Narges Mohammadi of her charges in prison continue. The International Federation of Journalists has called for the release of Keyvan Samimi and other imprisoned journalists. The second day of the 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' meeting emphasized the need to move beyond the current regime. Reports from the virtual 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' meeting noted the presence of dozens of political and civil activists from Iran and abroad.