Iran summons Swedish ambassador, demands end of Hamid Nouri's trial and his release

Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Swedish ambassador to Tehran and announced the Islamic Republic's "strongest protest" against the holding of Hamid Nouri's trial and the indictment by the country's prosecutor, calling for the release of this defendant, who was executed in the summer of 2018.

The Assistant Minister and Director General for Western Europe at the Iranian Foreign Ministry told Swedish Ambassador Matthias Lentz that the trial and arrest process of Hamid Nouri was "completely illegal" and "under the influence of false and fraudulent actions and insinuations" by the People's Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization.

This official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic has called Hamid Nouri's trial a "political show" and called for the release of the former assistant prosecutor of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.

Iran's reaction comes after the Swedish prosecutor's office requested a life sentence for Hamid Nouri on May 28. The Swedish prosecutor's office made this request after presenting its final defense in the indictment convicting Hamid Nouri, accusing him of "war crimes" and "premeditated murder."

Nouri's final court verdict has not yet been issued, and his trial will continue in the coming days with his lawyers presenting his final defense.

Hamid Nouri was arrested in November 2019 after entering Sweden. He is accused of participating in the execution of political prisoners in the summer of 1988. The former chief prosecutor of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj has denied the allegations, calling them "false and unsubstantiated."

Following the request for a life sentence for Hamid Nouri, the Swedish Foreign Ministry has urged its citizens to refrain from "non-essential travel" to Iran.

The ministry announced on May 28 that the warning was issued due to "changes in the security situation."

Source: Radio Farda