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Roghayeh Azizi Mirmahaleh, who was set tobe deported to Iran next week, has been granted a two-year temporary residency permit and can stay in Canada, her lawyer has confirmed.

The 60-year-old who lives in Montreal spent three years in an Iranian prison for political activism. Her husband was executed in Iran before she moved to Canada five years ago.

Federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen granted the woman a special temporary residency permit Thursday morning, and she was released from custody hours later.

Azizi Mirmahaleh and her daughter, Sahar Bahrami, emerged from the downtown MontrealImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office with their arms linked.

"She said she's so happy that she's with me [and]that she wishes every political prisoner in Iran would be free," Bahramisaid, translating from Farsifor her mother.

"We went through a really difficult time, but we're happy that finally, finally..." she said, her voice trailing off.

Bahrami said the plan for today is to celebrate, but that her mother will continue to advocate for a free Iran.

AziziMirmahaleh will also be able to attend Bahrami's wedding next month.

Bahramihad said she fearedher mother could face torture or evendeath if she was returned to Iran.

AziziMirmahaleh's application for refugee status was refused in 2013. Her lawyer StphanieValoissaid she believes the rejection was due to her affiliation with Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an exiled oppositiongroup that backs the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

AziziMirmahaleh and her husband had distributed pamphlets in Iran printed by the group.

Last month, aCanadian immigration officer decided it would besafe to send her back to Iran.Valois said that they will still be contesting that decision.

She hadbeen detained at the immigration detention centre in Laval sinceTuesday and was scheduled to return to Iran Feb. 28.

Roghayeh Azizi Mirmahaleh, 60, moved to Canada five years ago from Iran. Her refugee claim was denied. (CBC)

Quebec Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil was one of a number of politicians, including Montreal Mayor DenisCoderre and federal Transportation Minister MarcGarneau,who spoke in favour of allowing Azizi Mirmahalehto stay in Canada.

Quebec Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil had called on her federal counterpart to show compassion toward Roghayeh Azizi Mirmahaleh. (CBC)

She said while interventions at the provincial level carry a certain amount of weight, the decision was the result of group effort by politicians at all levels.

While she deferred specifics about what lies ahead for Azizi Mirmahaleh to her federal counterpart, Weil said she knows it will be a complex process.

"I think [Hussen has] found a good solution for now, for two years, and I think it's to better be able to find a solution that would be permanent," she said.

Opposition Qubec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadirsaid this is a good opportunity for the federal government to consider amoratoriumon deporting political dissenters to countries with harsh attitudes toward dissent, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia.

"It'sevident [AziziMirmahaleh] needs to be given permanent protection, to be allowed to stay here as a permanent resident," he said.

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Iranian Montrealer facing deportation can stay in Canada - CBC.ca