Facebook Backlash Frees Iranian Prisoner

An article, then a Facebook backlash, then freedom: Iranian political prison Majid Tavakoli was released after Advancing Human Rights executive director David Keyes wrote on The Daily Beast about questioning foreign minister Javad Zarif over Tavakoli’s imprisonment. The article created an uproar in Iran: Zarif reportedly told Keyes that he didn’t know who Tavakoli was, and thousands of Iranians took to social media to demand how he could be unaware of such a famous prisoner. Keyes then went on Kambis Hosseini’s show (he is called the “Iranian Jon Stewart”) to discuss Tavakoli further. On Tuesday, Tavakoli was released from prison.