Sister of Imprisoned French Man in Iran: Islamic Republic’s Hostage-Taking Must End

Blandine Brie, sister of Benjamin Brie, a French prisoner in Iran, has described her brother’s condition as going from bad to worse, saying that since Benjamin’s trial in early this year, there has been a kind of silence regarding his situation.

Blandine has expressed hope that France’s new government will be able to do something for his release.

She said: “Imagine that we are at the center of a political conflict, in the midst of nuclear negotiations and negotiations about prisoner exchanges, and an unfair trial that the Iranians even made a propaganda film about… and in short, we are caught in the middle of all this.”

Blandine added that “our current situation is not normal. It is not a situation that is within our control as citizens who are not journalists. It is completely unbelievable.”

Blandine, whose brother has been imprisoned in Iran on charges of propaganda against the system and espionage, says that this Islamic Republic hostage-taking in order to gain concessions must be ended with sanctions, boycotts, and with whatever else is necessary, and all Europeans and international hostages must be returned to their homes and justice must be served.

Source: Voice of America