FRANCE: A Paris appeals court yesterday ordered the release of the charismatic leader of the political wing of the Iranian People's Mujahideen, held on suspicion of planning possible terrorist attacks.
The decision went against a recommendation by the public prosecutor this week that Ms Maryam Rajavi, head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), should remain in detention as a possible threat to public order.
Ms Rajavi was arrested on June 17th in a French crackdown on Iran's largest armed opposition group that sparked protests among its supporters throughout Europe.
"This is the happiest day of my life," Shahin Gobadi, a member of the NCRI foreign affairs committee, said of the decision to free her on bail.
Ms Rajavi and 16 other associates are under investigation on the charge of "association with criminals in connection with a terrorist enterprise".
Her release follows the freeing on Tuesday of two other members of the movement who were among 10 people detained along with Ms Rajavi. The remaining six were not being held in custody.
On Sunday, Interior Minister Mr Nicolas Sarkozy defended the raids on the Mujahideen's offices, saying France would not become a "stomping ground for any terrorist organisation".
The raids uncovered suitcases of $100 bills totalling $8-9 million, a sum Mr Sarkozy said could only raise serious questions.
Scores of supporters had been on hunger strike outside the NCRI's headquarters near Paris to demand the release of Ms Rajavi, the wife of the Mujahideen main figure Mr Massoud Rajavi.
Several supporters set themselves on fire in Paris, London, Rome and Berne in protest at her arrest. One woman died.
Lawyers for the Mujahideen say the French authorities have no proof of wrong-doing.