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Iran: Jailed Blogger Shiva Nazar Ahari is Freed on $500,000 Bail

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Iran, Digital Activism, Freedom of Speech, Governance, Human Rights, Politics, Protest

Shiva Nazar Ahari [1], a jailed human rights activist and blogger, was freed yesterday.

According to [2]several news websites, Shiva was released on $500,000 bail. She went to trial in handcuffs in early September and was accused of involvement with the organization, People's Mujahedin of Iran [3].

This group has been in conflict with the Islamic Republic for years, and any affiliation with them is equated with waging war against God [4] or “Moharbeh“. This can carry a death penalty in Iran.

Several demonstrations have been held in recent weeks to support Shiva.

[5]

In Germany, on Friday, September 10 Madrane Solh Dortmond [6] (Mothers for Peace in Dortmund), a group that is also supported by men, held Shiva's photo in their hands (photo above). They gather weekly, on Saturdays, to show solidarity with grieving mothers in Iran. See more photos on their blog. [7]

Here is this group's Facebook campaign [8] for Shiva.

People also demonstrated in Washington DC. Ahmad Batebi [9], a human rights activist, speaks of Shiva in this video, and says she was only a human rights activist and was never involved with politics.

We are all Shiva is an online campaign [10] suggesting different activities to support Shiva, from Canada [11]to Iran [12].