British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert freed by Iran in prisoner swap
- The specialist in Middle East politics hailed the end of a ‘long and traumatic ordeal’ following her release
- Moore-Gilbert had been detained in Iran since September 2018 and was serving a 10-year sentence for espionage
Moore-Gilbert, a Melbourne University lecturer in Islamic Studies, was arrested in Tehran in September 2018 following an academic conference.
She was later handed a 10-year prison sentence in a secret trial on espionage charges.
Both Moore-Gilbert and the Australian government denied the charges.
The academic released a statement on Thursday acknowledging the “injustices” she faced and thanked those who had campaigned for her freedom throughout the “long and traumatic ordeal.”
“I came to Iran as a friend and with friendly intentions, and depart Iran with those sentiments not only still intact, but strengthened.”
Iranian state television channel IRIB reported on Wednesday that Moore-Gilbert was freed in exchange for the release of three Iranian prisoners.
IRIB did not reveal any further details about the three Iranian prisoners, but the channel is seen as well-informed and close to the country’s judicial system.
Finally to you Kylie, you are amazing
Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne confirmed the release in a statement on Thursday, but did not specify the arrangements.
“In full consultation with her family, Dr Moore-Gilbert’s release was achieved through diplomatic engagement with the Iranian government,” Payne said.
“This outcome demonstrates the value of professional and determined work, in the most appropriate way for each case, to resolve complex and sensitive consular cases.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also declined to confirm the prisoner swap.
“The Australian government doesn’t acknowledge or confirm any such arrangement regarding any release of any other persons in any other places,” Morrison told reporters via video link in Canberra.
He said that “these arrangements are very difficult to work through,” and the government deals with them “with a great deal of discretion.”
Morrison added that he had spoken to Moore-Gilbert and she seemed to be “quite good spirits.”
“Finally to you Kylie, you are amazing,” the prime minister said, describing Moore-Gilbert as being “an extraordinarily intelligent, strong and courageous woman.”
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Payne said Moore-Gilbert will be reunited with her family soon and will be required to enter quarantine upon her return, “but she will not be alone and she will be supported.”
The academic, who had been travelling on her Australian passport, had initially been detained in the notorious Evin Prison. In letters smuggled out of the prison, Moore-Gilbert again stressed she had “never been a spy.”
She had gone on repeated hunger strikes and spent long stretches in solitary confinement. In total, Moore-Gilbert spent 804 days behind bars.
All previous attempts by the Australian government to secure her freedom through diplomacy failed, as Iran said its judicial system was independent and would not be swayed by such moves.
There have already been two prisoner exchanges with Iran this year, with a German citizen released in February, and a French citizen in March, each in exchange for one Iranian prisoner.
In December 2019, a historian from America jailed in Iran was released, and in return an Iranian researcher was released from prison in the US.
