Iran Releases Conservationists Jailed Over Espionage Charges

The four were involved in efforts to protect endangered species, including the Asiatic cheetah, and were freed as part of a mass amnesty for Eid al-Fitr.

• Iran released four conservationists convicted on espionage charges after five years in prison, amid international criticism of their sentences.
• The conservationists were part of a group working to save the endangered Asiatic cheetah and other big cats in Iran.
• Their release was part of a mass amnesty of over 2,000 prisoners to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
• The United Nations Environment Program and other international organizations welcomed their release.
• During her incarceration, one of the conservationists, Niloufar Bayani, completed a research project on climate change and taught a course on the subject to other prisoners.

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