Swedish government demands release of European Union official held in Iran

Copenhagen [Denmark], November 10: The Swedish government called for the immediate release of Johan Floderus, a Swedish national working for the European Union, who is being held in Tehran, the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Thursday. The ministry said it was collaborating with the Swedish embassy to secure his release as well as trying to improve his prison conditions, while he is arbitrarily imprisoned. The embassy has had consular contact with him on several occasions, it said. Iran's judiciary indicted Floderus on espionage charges on Wednesday, the Iranian website Misan reported, citing a judiciary spokesman. Floderus has been detained in Iran for more than a year. Iran's secret service reported in the summer of 2022 that a Swede had been arrested on espionage charges after travelling to the country several times as a tourist. The tense relations between Sweden and Iran are considered a possible background to the case. Tehran is demanding the release of the Swedish national known as Hamid N, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in mass executions of political prisoners in Iran. (dpa)
Source: Qatar Tribune