Ayman Nour Released

Ayman Nour was released today after spending over three years in prison. The former presidential candidate, who ran against Hosni Mubarak in 2005, was imprisoned shortly thereafter on charges largely seen as illegitimate and politically motivated. Despite numerous pleas by international human rights groups, the United States, the European Union, and several additional governments and multilateral organizations, the Egyptian government had until now refused to revisit Nour's sentence.
 
Earlier this week, a Washington Post editorial argued that President Obama should make any visit by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak conditional upon the release of Ayman Nour and the dropping of charges against exiled human rights activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim.
 
A press release issued by the Egyptian General Prosecutor's Office stated that Nour's release was due to "health reasons." Nour was reportedly released several hours ago and is now at his home in Cairo