A German citizen was arrested in southwestern Iran as he took pictures of the oil facilities in the city of Omidieh “, Indicates this Tuesday, October 17 the daily state television.
Neither the identity nor the date of his arrest have been specified. The Jam-é Jam site, a daily newspaper on state television, only announced on Tuesday that ” a German citizen was arrested while taking pictures of the oil facilities in the city of Omidieh “. The city, located in the province of Khuzestan, is home to the main Iranian oil deposits. ” Our embassy is currently trying to shed light on this matter. “, reacted the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Two other German nationals are currently being held by Iranian authorities. Both have dual German-Iranian nationality. One, Nahid Tghavi, was sentenced to 10 years and 8 months in prison; the other, Jamshid Sharmahd, faces the death penalty. A few days ago, the announcement of the execution of the Iranian-British Alireza Akbari raised a wave of international indignation.
Seven French detainees
For its part, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs says to itself ” extremely worried of the state of health of Bernard Phelan, a Franco-Irish detained since October. On hunger strike since January 1, Bernard Phelan “ already not well “. His state of health is fragile and requires appropriate medical monitoring which is not provided in his place of detention “, alerted his sister. “ He was not judged but was arrested on the pretext that he was spreading anti-Iranian regime propaganda, she said. In addition to this hunger strike, the Franco-Irish began a thirst strike Monday, October 16. He is one of seven Frenchmen currently detained in Iran.
Belgium is worried for its part particularly for the fate of Olivier Vandecasteele. This 41-year-old humanitarian worker has been detained since February 24. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison, but according to Iranian judicial authorities, he should only serve 12 and a half years. This detention violates international law “, denounce independent experts of the UN who demand his immediate release.
Shaken by protests since the death on September 16 of the young Mahsa Amini, Iran is increasing the arrests of foreigners and dual nationals. Many countries have also asked their nationals to avoid traveling to the country.