Muscat: Praising the efforts of Oman in securing the release of an Iranian woman from an US prison, Iranian ambassador to Oman Hussain Noushabadi lashed out at the alleged inhuman behaviour of the US judicial officials. Shahrzad Mir-Qolikhan, a mother of twin daughters, was held in a US prison on spying charges for five years. The Oman government mediated with the American authorities and secured her release last week. She flew from Chicago to Muscat via Abu Dhabi after being released. “We have complained to international judicial bodies and human rights organisations against the inhuman behaviour of American official towards Mir-Qolikhan,” the Iranian envoy to Oman told Iranian news agency IRNA.
Noushabadi added that unfortunately Mir-Qolikhan was imprisoned five years ago on a baseless accusation by the US government and judicial officials. “She was interrogated under the worst situation and was psychologically tortured,” he alleged.
She was arrested in December 2007 after being forced to return to the United States from a vacation in Cyprus. Her former husband, Mahmoud Saif, had allegedly tried to export night-vision goggles to Iran from Austria.
However, A Florida court sentenced Mir-Qolikhan to five years in prison in the absence of her husband.
More than 60 Iranian nationals are allegedly held in US prisons, 11 of them on political grounds and without any proof or evidence.
The Iranian ambassador added that Iran and Oman cooperate with each other in humanitarian and human rights affairs and consult in international and regional affairs.
He further said Iran has used Omani mediation in this case, but the US government did not do anything to reduce the prison term of Mir-Qolikhan.
Oman had also played a key role in seeking the release of three American hikers — Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd — from Iran after the three California University Graduates were arrested on charges of spying by the Iranian authorities.
The Iranian envoy also hoped that the US government would take necessary measures to release another Iranian.
The US-educated electrical engineer, Syed Mojtaba Atarodi, was arrested in Los Angeles last year when he had gone there for some treatment.
Noushabadi also hopes that Britain will release an Iranian held by them.
