140 Election Protestors Released from Jail in Iran

140 protestors detained during the post-election unrest in Iran have been released. The news comes after nearly two months of international outrage over incendiary reports of police brutality against election protesters, which left hundreds detained and more than 20 killed. However, despite protests from world leaders, a visit Tuesday by Iranian parliament committee members toTehran’s Evin prison and the subsequent release of the prisoners seems to have provided more concrete results. Among those freed was Shadi Sadr, a woman’s rights activist who was imprisoned during a July 17 protest. The 150 protesters still imprisoned throughout Iran may also be released soon, according to Kazem Jalali , spokesperson for the parliamentary committee responsible for the Evin prison release. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has demanded that theKahrizak prison, located on the southern outskirts of Tehran, be closed. The prison apparently "did not possess the required standards to ensure the rights of the detainees," said Jalali.