Conviction Verdict Issued for French Tourist Imprisoned in Iran; Charges: Espionage and Propaganda Against the System
In the latest action against foreign nationals in the Islamic Republic of Iran, a court in Mashhad issued a conviction verdict for Benjamin Brière, a French citizen who was arrested ten months ago.
Ten months ago, French tourist Benjamin Brière was arrested after flying a drone in fields near the Iran-Turkmenistan border, and on Sunday, June 9th, the Mashhad prosecutor’s office charged him with espionage through “photographing forbidden areas.”
Said Dehghan, one of the lawyers representing this French citizen detained in Iran, wrote on Twitter that the Mashhad prosecutor’s office issued a conviction verdict on two charges of “espionage” and “propaganda against the system,” and issued a decision to dismiss prosecution on two other charges against his client regarding “corruption on earth” and “alcohol consumption.”
Based on available information, the charge of propaganda against the system consisted of posts made by Mr. Brière on social media with the content that the hijab is “mandatory” in Iran and “voluntary” in other Islamic countries, which he described as contradictory and questionable.
Mr. Dehghan told Reuters that his client is in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, and employees of the French Embassy’s consular section have also been in contact with him.
Previously, Voice of America had reported that “Benjamin Brière,” a French tourist, was arrested in the city of Mashhad, and Saiid Dehghan, his defense lawyer, stated that the charges brought against this French tourist are contradictory and baseless.
It should be noted that currently, apart from Benjamin Brière, several other European and American citizens have also been imprisoned in recent years by the Islamic Republic on similar charges. Previously, Fariba Adelkhah, an Iranian-French citizen, was sentenced to six years in prison; currently, a number of dual-nationality American and non-American citizens—including Anoosheh Ashouri, Nahid Taghvidi, Siamak and Baquer Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, Ares Amiri, Kamran Ghaderi, Jamshid Sharmahd, and Masoud Mossaheb—are imprisoned in Iran.
Kaylee Moore Gilbert, an Australian-British citizen, was also imprisoned in Iran for more than two years, but was recently released in exchange for the freedom of three Iranians accused of terrorist activities in Thailand who were imprisoned in this country.
Western analysts have repeatedly stated that the Islamic Republic uses dual-nationality individuals as hostages to obtain money and concessions from Western governments.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has intensified the detention of foreign and dual-nationality citizens in recent years. The United States State Department has repeatedly condemned the arbitrary and despotic detention of American citizens and citizens of other countries, including dual-nationality Iranians, by the Islamic Republic, and has called for their immediate and unconditional release.
Source: Voice of America
