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Iran govt releases 80 political prisoners

Iranian authorities have released 80 people detained in connection with the 2009 protests against former president Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

Some 80 political prisoners have been pardoned and released in Iran, Attorney General Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei says.

Without providing names, Mohseni-Ejei said most of those released had been detained in connection with the 2009 protests against alleged election fraud in the re-election of then president Mahmud Ahmadinejad, the ISNA news agency reported.

At least 100 political prisoners remain in jail in Iran.

Last week, a total of 16 political prisoners were released from the notorious Evin prison in northern Tehran.

Among those set free was human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.

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The move has been hailed by many in Iran as a great policy success for President Hassan Rowhani, who during his election campaign placed the release of political prisoners high on his agenda.

Rowhani is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly for the first time on Tuesday.


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Source: AAP



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