Anger and Protests by Activists and Civil Society Members Over “Hamid Nouri’s” Release

Activists and civil society members have reacted strongly to the release of “Hamid Nouri,” a former judicial official.

In recent days, according to an agreement between Iran and Sweden with Oman’s mediation, several imprisoned citizens were exchanged. “Hamid Nouri,” a former judicial official, was released and returned to Tehran in exchange for the freedom of “Johan Flodström” and “Saeed Azizi.”

He, who previously issued execution warrants for many Iranians, is now in Tehran with his family, and this release has sparked reactions from many people, including “Esmat Watan-Parast.” Esmat Watan-Parast, whose 11 family members were executed in the 1980s, responded to Hamid Nouri’s release by saying: “It is true that today my heart broke, tears came to my eyes, but I am hopeful for you, the people of Iran.”

“Nazanin Boniadi” also responded to his release by posting a message on the X network, warning that the Islamic Republic will continue hostage-taking of dual nationals, suppression of the Iranian people, hostage-taking of foreign citizens, and creating terror outside the country. She said: “The international community must adopt a new approach to reach a different outcome. An approach that, instead of appeasement with the Islamic Republic, focuses on deterrence against it.”

“Shahryar Shams,” a civil activist in Iran, also posted a message on the X network in response to Hamid Nouri’s release: “The release of Hamid Nouri, especially after the death of Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister, showed that the Islamic Republic’s negotiations with foreign governments are not conducted by the president and his team. So do not vote with promises and under the pretext of openness and engagement with the world.”

“Shirin Ebadi,” a human rights activist, lawyer, and Nobel Peace Prize winner, while referring to the presence of “Ahmadre Jalali’s” wife, a political prisoner in Iran, in front of Sweden’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday, called Hamid Nouri’s release a shameful exchange and said: “I urge all Iranians and citizens who know Hamid Nouri as a murderer and the Islamic Republic as a crime against humanity and believe that appeasement with executioners is unacceptable to accompany Ahmadre Jalali’s wife.”

“Hamed Esmailiyon,” a member of the board of directors of the Organization of Families of PS752 Flight Victims, wrote in response to Hamid Nouri’s release: “The exchange of Nouri, Asadi, and other criminals with the hostage-taking government of the Islamic Republic is not unpredictable. The people of hypocrisy, dissimulation, and death have relied on hostage-taking since the beginning of their emergence and will continue to engage in kidnapping and negotiation for the release of their terrorists in the future.”

Hamed Esmailiyon, while defending the trial process held in Sweden for Hamid Nouri, considered it a successful example of transitional justice and one of the courts that could be held within the country after the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. According to his statements, this court provided an opportunity for victims and surviving families to speak about their suffering and the details of the crime.

He also wrote: “Conducting such a trial in the future and in a free Iran is our goal. Justice based on human rights laws and in the very place where the crime was committed. That day will come, we neither forget nor forgive the perpetrators and instigators of crimes.”