Report: Iran temporarily releases prominent pro-reform politician for new year holiday

Report: Iran releases prominent pro-reform figure

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian news agencies say authorities have released a prominent pro-reform activist two days after security forces took him into custody.

The Fars semiofficial news agency and other local agencies quote Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi as saying former vice president Hossein Marashi was temporarily released Saturday for Iran’s new year celebrations.

Tehran traditionally releases some prisoners for the holiday, which lasts until April 2.

Marashi was arrested Thursday after an appeals court upheld his one-year prison sentence. He was convicted of spreading propaganda against the ruling clerical establishment.

Marashi is a spokesman of the liberal Kargozaran political party and supported opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi in June’s disputed election won by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Opposition supporters say Ahmadinejad won by fraud.