The family members of Hamid Nouri, a former Iranian official, who was released and returned to the Islamic Republic earlier following five-year-long wrongful imprisonment in Sweden, recount their joy and relief over his freedom.

“We’re very happy that before Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Ghadir (pending Muslim festivities), we finally saw an end to a period of suffering, captivity, and injustice that was imposed on my father by the West,” Nouri’s son told Press TV on Saturday.

“We’re grateful to God that my father has now returned to his homeland. I fully appreciate the efforts made by Martyr [Hossein] Amir-Abdollahian and late president Ebrahim Raeisi, who’re no longer among us,” the son added, pointing to former Iranian foreign minister and chief executive’s endeavor towards ensuring Nouri’s freedom.

“I pray that God will free all the innocent captives.”

The plane carrying Nouri touched down in the Iranian capital Tehran earlier in the day.

Nouri was arrested upon arrival at Stockholm Airport in November 2019 and immediately imprisoned owing to unfounded allegations promoted by elements representing the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) terrorist cult. The cult has openly boasted about carrying out terrorist operations against Iranian officials and civilians.

He spent three and a half years of his illegal imprisonment in Sweden in solitary confinement.

“I’m not only happy, but also surprised. Because I can’t believe that my husband has been released. For the past five years, I’ve been looking forward to seeing my husband. It’s been quite hard for us,” his wife said.

“We owe my husband’s freedom to the efforts made by Martyr Raeisi and Martyr Amir-Abdollahian, who are very much missed. May their souls rest in peace,” she added.

“I’m very grateful to all the officials, who took the trouble to help my husband to be freed, especially Mr. [Kazem] Gharibabadi,” Nouri’s spouse added, referring to the head of the Iranian Judiciary’s High Council for Human Rights.

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