Canadian-Iranian professor Homa Hoodfar freed from prison: Trudeau

Canadian-Iranian professor Homa Hoodfar has been released from an Iranian prison and flown out of the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed Monday.

Trudeau said in a statement that “Canadians are relieved that Dr. Hoodfar has been released from jail and will soon be reunited with her family, friends and colleagues.”

Iran’s state-run news agency reported that Hoodfar had been freed from prison and flown out of the country.

IRNA said Hoodfar was freed on humanitarian grounds.

Hoodfar, 65, was questioned and barred from leaving Iran in March after travelling to the country to visit family following the death of her husband.

Trudeau said complicating matters for Canada was the lack of direct diplomatic ties with Iran.

“In the absence of diplomatic representation of its own in Iran, Canada worked closely with others who were instrumental in helping secure Dr. Hoodfar’s release – most notably Oman, Italy and Switzerland,” Trudeau said, thanking them for their support.

Friends and family declined to comment or were not immediately available when reached about the reports of her release on Monday.

Her family has said she was imprisoned in Tehran’s Evin Prison since June 6.

Hoodfar until recently taught anthropology and sociology at Montreal’s Concordia University.

In July, Iran announced indictments for Hoodfar and three others, without providing any details about the accusations.

Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, meaning those detained cannot receive consular assistance.

A string of dual nationals have been arrested in recent months. Analysts have suggested Iranian hard-liners hope to use them as bargaining chips with the West.

Canada has not had an embassy in Iran since 2012, when its then-Conservative-led government cut diplomatic ties over Tehran’s contested nuclear program and other issues.

In the time since, world powers have reached a deal with Iran for it to limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

With files from The Associated Press