London, January 13, 2025 – Nahid Taghavi, an Iranian-German women’s rights activist, has been released from prison and returned to Germany after more than four years of incarceration in Iran, Amnesty International announced on Monday.
Taghavi’s release followed concerns about her health and persistent calls from rights groups for the German government to pressure Tehran on her case. She was detained in October 2020 during a visit to Tehran and later sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison for her alleged involvement in an illegal group and for propaganda against the state. Amnesty International described the charges as fabricated.
“My mum is finally home. Words are not enough to describe our joy. At the same time, we mourn the four years we were robbed of and the horror she experienced in Evin prison,” said her daughter Mariam Claren in a statement.
Amnesty International reported that Taghavi was tortured during her time in prison and held in solitary confinement. She landed safely in Germany on Sunday, and Amnesty called for many more releases to follow in Iran.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed Taghavi’s release, describing it as “a great moment of joy that Nahid Taghavi can finally embrace her family again.”