US-detained Iran Scientist Released: Mehmanparast

Tehran, April 27, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmenparast said that Mojtaba Atarodi held in the United States was released through the efforts of the ministry. Atarodi arrived in Los Angeles on December 7, 2011 to take part in a scientific seminar but he was detained by the security forces. The US court sentenced him to home imprisonment after prolonging the process of investigation illegally for 16 months. Following his detention, Foreign Ministry started legal activities to defend him, Mehmanparast said, noting that the ministry considers release of the Iranian expatriates in prisons as one of its main priorities. The 54-year-old scientist is a microchip expert and assistant professor at Sharif University of Technology. He is the author and co-author of dozens of scientific papers dealing with microchip technology./end