Iranian-German Citizen Jailed in Iran Flees Back to Germany

An Iranian-German national who was arrested during a trip to Iran in June fled the country after his release on bail, according to Deutsche Welle’s Persian service.

Reza Shahri left Iran through the border with Iraq and then traveled to Germany via Turkey, the German broadcaster reported on November 23.

Shahri is now back in the western German city of Mannheim, where he owns a beauty products store. 

The dual citizen was arrested by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence for criticizing the government and participating in the anti-establishment demonstrations.

Western governments and rights groups have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of taking dual and foreign nationals hostage for the sole purpose of using them in prisoner swaps or as a bargaining chip in international negotiations.