February
1st, 2007 - Update
Thank you to everyone who responded to this
post.
Defense attorneys received verbal confirmation from the court
that Nazanin Fatehi was to be exonerated from the charge of murder.
The incident that took place in March 2005 was recognized as an
act of self-defense. However the court ruled that disproportionate
force was used by Nazanin while trying to defend herself and her
15-year old niece. Accordingly, they asked Nazanin to pay “dieh”
(blood money) to receive a pardon from the family of the deceased.
Once this amount was paid, Nazanin would be released from prison.
Shadi Sadr and Mr. Mostafaei, Nazanin Fatehi's laywers, are appealing
this blood money because they believe that Nazanin is innocent
for acting in self-defense and therefore she should not have to
pay any money. Unfortunately, this appeal may take several months,
so in the meantime arrangements were made to have Nazanin released
from prison by paying “bail” money into court.
The amount of bail was set at 400,000,000 Rials (app US$ 45,000).
The amount of blood money retribution is expected to be approximately
US$ 35,000.
A trust fund was set up to collect the necessary funds to post
bail in order to free Nazanin Fatehi.
Thanks to $31,000 USD in on-line donations, $1,000 USD in cheques,
$1,000 USD collected in Iran and a $2,000 USD donation by Canadian
MP Belinda Stronach, the bail requirements were fulfilled.
On January 31st, 2007, Nazanin was freed from prison and reunited
with her family.She cried in her mothers arms and took turns embracing
her siblings and father. Nazanin's lawyer said that she had told
him she wanted to go to school and study hard to get her life
back (Nazanin only has 2nd grade education).
Isn't it amazing what we can achieve when we are united?
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