TEHRAN – Iran’s second Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Nikzad has hailed the release of a former Iranian Judiciary official from Swedish jail as indicative of the country’s power and dignity in diplomatic matters.

Nikzad made the remarks at the beginning of a parliament session on Tuesday. “The release of Hamid Nouri signifies Iran's power and the dignity of the country's diplomacy. It was also a major defeat for the hypocrites and Zionists,” he said, adding that Nouri’s return to Iran also brought “disgrace” to the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) terrorist group.

Nouri spent over four years in prison after being arrested in November 2019 upon his arrival at Stockholm Airport. He was sentenced to life in prison on charges of “crime against humanity” for his rulings against MKO terrorists during his time in the Iranian judiciary. The terror group openly boasts about its killing of over 17,000 Iranian civilians and officials, and says it would do it all over again if it gets the chance. Nouri’s trials were mostly based on allegations put forth by the MKO. 

Nouri was subject to repeated human rights violations during his detention in Sweden. According to his attorneys, the Iranian national’s three and a half years in solidarity confinement smashed world records. He was also denied medical care on multiple occasions and was physically assaulted by Swedish police on at least one occasion.