SAN FRANCISCO, March 19: Four Iranian brothers Detained for more than three years after their arrest In an FBI terrorism probe have been freed in Los Angeles. The Mirmehdi brothers - Mohammed, Mostafa, Mohsen and Mojtaba - were arrested in Oct 2001 for allegedly supporting a Los Angeles-based cell of the Mujahedeen-i-Khalq, which opposes the Iranian government and is classified by the State Department as a terrorist organization.
The brothers acknowledged attending protest events against the Tehran government, but denied belonging to the Mujahedeen-i-Khalq.
They never faced criminal charges. They were sent into detention to await deportation for allegedly lying in the 1990s on their applications seeking political asylum and for their suspected ties to the Mujahedeen.
In August, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled evidence tying the brothers to terrorism was inconclusive. The board also upheld a decision of two immigration judges who said the Mirmehdis would be tortured or persecuted if returned to Iran.
The Mirmehdi brothers, who rejected a release offer last month, were freed last night after the US government revised its offer and reduced travel restrictions.
The brothers can remain in the United States, although two of them have been ordered deported and the other two are appealing their deportation orders.
Their attorney, Marc van der Hout, said he doubts they will be deported. “Another country won’t welcome someone into their country that the United States has accused of being part of a terrorist organization, even though those charges are baseless.”
