TEHRAN, Iran — In an apparent response Tuesday to allegations of abuse, Iran freed 140 opposition activists detained during election protests this summer, and the country’s supreme leader ordered a prison closed because of substandard conditions.
The developments followed local news reports that four activists have died in custody in recent days.
However, the Interior Ministry turned down a request by opposition leaders to hold an event commemorating protesters killed in the crackdown after the disputed presidential election of June 12.
The release of the 140 prisoners from Evin prison, one of Tehran’s two main detention facilities, came after a visit by a special parliamentary committee, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Those freed were not named, but the prominent women’s rights activist Shadi Sadr was reported to have been among them, released on bail. Sadr was arrested July 17.
Several members of political factions close to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi are still missing, as are well-known artists and journalists.
