FAMILY and friends of a former NSW Central Tablelands woman are celebrating her sudden release from an Iranian jail after more than two years in detention.
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Formerly of Bathurst Kylie Moore-Gilbert's supporters woke to the news on Thursday morning that she had been released from prison overnight, reportedly as part of an exchange for three Iranians jailed abroad.
The Australian academic and former All Saints' College student had spent 804 days behind bars after being charged with espionage offences in 2018, allegations she vehemently denied.
Bathurst man Mark Haley, a friend of the family and a member of the FreeKylieMG group that had been lobbying the Australian Government to fight for her release, said it was fantastic to hear she was coming home.
"I have been talking to the family this morning and they are just over the moon," Mr Haley said.
"This news has just come out of the blue. Like everyone else, we saw it on the news early this morning.
"It's something we've all been hoping would happen and now it has. A lot of prayers have been answered this morning."
Mr Haley said lobbying efforts pushing for Ms Moore-Gilbert's release had continued right up until Thursday morning.
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A group of friends met in Melbourne on Sunday to mark her 800th day behind bars by writing messages on paper butterflies which were placed on the lawns of St Paul's Cathedral.
And a group of Bathurst supporters was scheduled to meet opposition leader Anthony Albanese on Thursday to discuss Ms Moore-Gilbert's situation.
"That meeting has now been called off," Mr Haley said.
"The family has been very aware of what has been happening in the background but they haven't wanted to rattle anything around that.
"It has been a bit of a struggle for them not knowing what has been happening at times and they have heard a few different things without really knowing what's what.
"I think the Australian Consulate over there has been giving them a fair bit of feedback."
Ms Moore-Gilbert, a specialist in Middle East politics at the University of Melbourne, was detained in Iran in September 2018.
She was given a 10-year sentence for espionage.
