An Iranian serving a life sentence on a conviction of designing a pornographic website has fled the country while on short-term release from prison and has arrived in Canada, the foreign ministry and his family said. “Canada welcomes the news that Saeed Malekpour has been reunited with his family in Canada,” a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement received by AFP. “We have advocated for Mr Malekpour´s release and are pleased that he is now in Canada,” the spokesman said, without elaborating due to privacy considerations. Iranian authorities on Saturday confirmed state television reports that Malekpour, who is also a permanent resident of Canada, had left Iran. “This individual was barred from leaving the country and has apparently left… via unofficial channels and has not returned,” said judiciary spokesman.
