Iran accuses imprisoned French citizen of 'espionage'

Benjamin Berber, a French citizen imprisoned in Iran, has been accused of "espionage and propaganda against the regime."

Saeed Dehghan, one of the prisoner's lawyers, wrote in a tweet published on Monday, March 15, that the "last defense" of the defendant had been obtained and that the reason for the "espionage" charge against him was "the French tourist's taking photographs of prohibited areas."

According to this lawyer, the reason for the charge of "propaganda against the system" against this prisoner was that Mr. Benjamin Berber had written in the media, "Why is the hijab "mandatory" in the Islamic Republic but "optional" in other Islamic countries?"

Mr. Dehghan announced on March 26 that his client was arrested about 9 months ago and that the prisoner, who is being held in Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad, has not been allowed to meet with his lawyer.

A person close to the French citizen's family told Reuters that he was arrested after flying "a drone" in the plains near the Iran-Turkmenistan border.

Saeed Dehghan, a lawyer, said in an interview with HRANA News Agency on March 26: "This person, as a tourist, had a regular "helicam" with him for photography," and the accusations against him are "contradictory and baseless."

A person close to Benjamin's family also said that he traveled to Iran from France in a pickup truck. According to him, Benjamin has been in contact with his family since his arrest in May and has spoken to his family in France twice.

The French Foreign Ministry has previously confirmed the arrest of one of its citizens in Iran, adding that French embassy staff have been in contact with him and that he is receiving consular services.

In recent years, Iran has arrested several dual-national Iranian citizens on charges of espionage and collaboration with hostile countries.

One of these individuals is Fariba Adelkhah, a French-Iranian citizen who was sentenced to six years in prison on security charges in May of this year. Roland Marchal, Adelkhah’s fiancé, a university professor who was arrested with her, was released a few months ago.

Mr. Marshall was released after the release of Jalal Ruhollahnejad, an Iranian engineer who was imprisoned in France for violating US sanctions.

Human rights groups have accused the Iranian government of using the detention of dual citizens as a tool to gain concessions in economic and diplomatic dealings with Western countries.

The Iranian government denies politically motivated arrests of dual nationals and emphasizes that most of the foreigners and dual nationals imprisoned have been convicted of espionage.

Experts believe that the future of Iran's negotiations with European powers regarding the revival of the JCPOA and the easing of tensions in Tehran's relations with the new US administration will have a significant impact on the fate of foreign and dual-national prisoners in Iran.

Source: Radio Farda