I got word a couple days ago that Nilou had been pardoned as part of Ramadan. Amongst all the hope and joy that news produced amongst the chat groups, there was still anxiety because there was no news on whether she had actually been released.

However, less than 24 hours later we got an update (and a gloriously happy photo!) showing her free. When the Iranian government wants to, it can correct injustices quickly, I guess.

A photo of Niloufar Bayani, apparently taken after her release from prison in Tehran yesterday (2024/04/08). Photo from this Tweet.

When I first heard that she had been released, I was asked not to share the photo of Nilou that accompanied the news. However, the photo has now been released publicly, so I think it is safe to share it here, along with the other pictures that have been released publicly. The photos of her smiling, free, looking genuinely happy brought me to tears (of joy, of course). Six years in prison for nothing, because of a mistake, and still she looks like the joyous, charismatic person I remember. Nilou maintained her passion for the environment while imprisoned; she managed to publish some of it from prison here. In her position, I think I would be a shattered shell of my former self, consumed with fear, anger, and mistrust.

Niloufar Bayani, fourth from left (making a peace sign), in a photo apparently taken after her release from prison in Tehran yesterday (2024/04/08). Photo from this Tweet.

For the past year or so I, and other people I know, have been asked to keep from publicly advocating for Nilou. We were told that intense advocacy was being conducted within Iran and my understanding was that unrelated advocacy from foreigners could be viewed negatively by those that consider this a purely internal Iranian justice issue. Because of this I published nothing here, and an article I co-authored, and that a publisher had agreed to publish, was put on indefinite hold. I am so, so happy that this approach worked and that Nilou is free. I hope, desperately, that my previous advocacy was never counter-productive in getting Nilou released.

I can’t write anymore because I can barely see through my tears. I’m going to go sit and cry some more, and be happy that she’s free and furious at the injustices of the world. I’m still not sure there’s any hope for nature. I hope that Niloufar Bayani, my hero, can prove there is.