Imprisoned Iranian Volleyball Protestor Freed on Bail

(ATR) Ghoncheh Ghavami was freed due to health problems after paying bail of $38,000.

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Japan's Yu Koshikawa tries to score past Iran's defence during the men's volleyball final match for the 17th Asian Games between Japan and Iran at the Songnim Gymnasium in Incheon on October 3, 2014.  AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BUREAU        (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images)
Japan's Yu Koshikawa tries to score past Iran's defence during the men's volleyball final match for the 17th Asian Games between Japan and Iran at the Songnim Gymnasium in Incheon on October 3, 2014. AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BUREAU (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images)

The volleyball fan imprisoned in Iran is now free on bail.

Ghoncheh Ghavami, a British-Iranian law graduate, was freed on bail due to health problems after her original arrest on June 20 for attempting to watch a men’s volleyball match despite laws denying women that right.

The International Volleyball Federation welcomed the news

"The FIVB welcomes the news that Ghoncheh Ghavami has been released on bail in Iran and would like to thank [Iran President] Hassan Rouhani for his role in this positive development," said the FIVB in a statement released to Around the Rings.

"We recognise that this remains a sensitive matter. The FIVB will continue to have on-going dialogue with the relevant authorities in all relevant countries to encourage inclusivity in volleyball and enable all people to watch and participate in all forms of our sport whatever their gender, beliefs or ethnicity."

Ghavami has staged hunger strikes during her detention, and her family tells the BBC says he is suffering from "intestinal problems."

The release came after bail of $38,000 was posted. Ghavami and several other women with whom she was protesting say they were beaten during their arrest.

Written by Nick Devlin

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