Canadian-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari freed on bail from Iranian prison.

The release was probably on humanitarian grounds as Bahari's wife is having a baby and experiencing complications. Bahari works for Newsweek. Iran rounded up many foreign journalists, especially those who covered the opposition demonstrations against Ahmadinejad and charged them with espionage. Several years ago a female Canadian Iranian journalist, Zahra Kazemi, died in an Iranian prison in July 2003. First it was claimed that she died from a stroke but later the government admitted it was a result of being beaten.

""""Iranian-Canadian journalist freed on bail after almost 4 months
(CP) - 13 hours ago

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari was freed on bail Saturday, almost four months after he was arrested .......Newsweek confirmed the release in a statement posted on its website.

....Bahari, 42, was arrested June 21 while covering the election and was later charged with espionage.

Iranian authorities didn't specify the reasons for Bahari's release, but Newsweek speculated he was released on humanitarian grounds.

Bahari and his wife are expecting their first child Oct. 26 and his wife, Paola Gourley, has experienced serious health complications.

Several hundred authors, journalists, and filmmakers from around the world, including several Nobel Prize winners, signed petitions calling for Bahari's release, Newsweek said.

Bahari was among more than 100 prisoners put on mass trial in August, accused of being part of an opposition plot to help topple Iran's clerical leaders.

""""