The Australian government has confirmed academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert has been released from an Iranian prison as part of an international prisoner swap.
In a statement released this morning, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said “I am extremely pleased and relieved to advise that Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert has been released from detention in Iran and will soon be reunited with her family”.
“Dr Moore-Gilbert’s release was achieved through diplomatic engagement with the Iranian government,” she said.
“I wish Dr Moore-Gilbert well in her recovery and her return to life in Australia.”
The 33-year-old lecturer from Melbourne was arrested on espionage charges in 2018 when trying to leave Iran after attending an academic conference and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
She strongly denied the charges – which have also been contested by the Australian government.
International pressure has been mounting on Iran to release Dr Moore-Gilbert, particularly as concerns were raised over her health – which was believed to have deteriorated following long periods in isolation.
Colleagues who ran a social media campaign called “Free Kylie Moore-Gilbert” have responded to the news on Twitter, saying “if this proves true, 2020 has made the mother of all comebacks!”
