The Diplomat
Spanish activist Ana Baneira, imprisoned in Iran since the beginning of November after being detained in the context of protests against the regime following the death in custody of Masha Amini, was released on Saturday and returned to our country yesterday.
After her release, the young activist spoke by telephone with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, to whom she expressed her gratitude for the steps taken to secure her release and indicated that she was in good condition after these months in custody.
Baneira’s arrest became known in early November in the context of protests across the country following the death of the young Kurdish woman Masha Amini in September, while she was in detention for allegedly wearing the veil incorrectly. The exact motives and circumstances of her arrest have not been made public.
With her release from prison, another Spanish citizen, Santiago Sánchez Cogedor, is still in detention in Iran. He was arrested in early October when he was on his way on foot to Qatar to watch the World Cup, precisely after visiting Amini’s tomb.
In recent months, both Albares and other members of his department have been in contact with their Iranian counterparts to request the release of the two Spaniards and to ask for their situation and that they be guaranteed proper treatment while in prison.
The sources consulted assured that now that Baneira has been released, efforts are continuing both from the consular services at the Ministry and from the Embassy in Tehran to secure the release of the other Spaniard, and his family is being kept informed at all times.
Albares himself, who was visiting Albacete yesterday, expressed his happiness at the release of the Spaniard Ana Baneira, and said that his happiness would be “complete” when Santiago Sánchez is also released.
Albares confirmed that he had been in contact with his Iranian counterpart since Baneira’s arrest to ask him to release the Spaniard “immediately”, as the charges against her were “totally unfounded”.
“The important thing is that she has been released, that she is now well, and I will not stop insisting until Santiago is also released from what is a detention that has no basis whatsoever. Today is a very happy day and the happiness will be complete when Santiago is also released”, he said.
