A Swedish tourist was “detained” in Iran

The newspaper "Aftonbladet", relying on information it received, has reported the arrest of a Swedish tourist in Iran. The newspaper linked the arrest to "threats of kidnapping and arrest" of Swedish citizens in Iran following the trial of Hamid Nouri.

The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported the arrest of a Swedish man in Iran who had traveled to Iran on a tourist trip with other tourists from the country.

The newspaper linked the arrest of this thirty-something man to “threats to kidnap and arrest Swedish citizens in connection with the trial of Hamid Nouri.”

Swedish prosecutors on Thursday (April 28) demanded a life sentence for Nouri. Hamid Nouri is on trial in Sweden for his involvement in the execution of political prisoners in Iran in the summer of 1988. The prosecutor has charged Nouri with “war crimes” and “premeditated murder.”

The Swedish Foreign Ministry warned its citizens against traveling to Iran after announcing the life sentence request.

The newspaper "Aftonbladet" writes that the Swedish embassy in Tehran is in contact with local authorities to clarify the reason for the tourist's arrest.

According to information received by this newspaper, the Swedish man was arrested last week after he attempted to leave Iran after several days of traveling there.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed the man's arrest but declined to provide further information.

Hamid Nouri, the former assistant prosecutor of Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, was arrested in Sweden in November 2019. Aftonbladet writes that Iran has asked the Swedish government through various channels to intervene and release Hamid Nouri.

According to an informed source, the Swedish government has told Iran that it has an independent judicial system and cannot release a defendant.

On May 4, coinciding with the last day of Hamid Nouri's trial, Iran announced that it would execute imprisoned Iranian-Swedish researcher Ahmadreza Jalali within two weeks (end of May).

Jalali is accused of “spying” for Israel, a charge he denies and says he made his confessions under torture and coercion.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is accused of repeatedly imprisoning dual-national citizens, most of whom had traveled to Iran at the official invitation of government institutions, on trumped-up charges over the past 40 years, in order to use them as hostages for political blackmail.

Hamid Nouri's trial in Sweden could have serious consequences for other officials of the Islamic Republic who have been involved in human rights violations, killings, and crimes over the past four decades.

Source: DW