Dorothy Parvaz was released from Iranian custody late last night, according to a statement the International Press Institute (IPI) received from Parvaz’s former colleague and friend, Kristen Young.

Parvaz, an American, Canadian and Iranian citizen working for Al Jazeera English, had been held incommunicado since 29 April, when she arrived in Damascus to cover the civil unrest.  Numerous politicians and press freedom groups, including IPI, called for her release and wrote letters to the Syrian embassy requesting that she be freed, and that the authorities provide information on her whereabouts.

On 11 May, spokespersons from the Syrian government said that Parvaz had been “deported” from Syria on 1 May for travelling on an expired Iranian passport, and that she was in Tehran.

When IPI contacted the Iranian embassy in Vienna on 12 May, officials said that they were attempting to confirm whether Parvaz was in Iranian custody. IPI learned this morning that Parvaz has been released.

“We are delighted that Dorothy Parvaz has been freed by Iran, and is unharmed,” said IPI Director Alison Bethel McKenzie. “We welcome Iran’s quick efforts to locate and free Dorothy, but note that many other journalists remain in prison in both Syria and Iran, and we call on those governments to demonstrate the same respect for press freedom and the rights of journalists that they have shown to Ms. Parvaz.”

According to the statement sent by Young early on Wednesday, 18 May, Parvaz’s fiancé Todd Barker said that she had been released and was safe in Doha, and expected to fly to Vancouver, Canada today.

“We can’t wait to see her. She said that she was treated well in Iran. She sounded positive and grateful for the support – but a little embarrassed. We are very thankful to Iranian authorities for her release and good treatment,” Barker said on Facebook.