“This was an affront to justice,” said Gissou Nia, president of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center in New Haven, Connecticut. “There has been a constant call for countries that have universal jurisdiction to open investigations into Iranian officials, including into the women-led protests.” She was referring to the mass protests of 2022, which began with the death of a young woman in the custody of the morality police after she was accused of violating the mandatory hijab rule.
Nia added: “It is horrific for victims of atrocity crimes in general,” adding that it has also been a disincentive for other countries to take up complex and often expensive cases under universal jurisdiction.
Family members of those victims and dozens of others from around the world who remain in Iranian custody were also outraged by the switch on Saturday, with many taking to social media to express their frustrations. Many of those still imprisoned, including Ahmadreza Djalali, a scientist on death row facing dark charges of espionage and helping Israel kill nuclear scientists, are Swedish citizens. Mr. Djalali has denied the charges against him.
Mr Djalili’s wife, Vida Mehrannia, said in a telephone interview that she was shocked when she learned of the exchange from the media this morning and devastated that her husband had been left behind.
