National of Austria allegedly imprisoned in Iran for espionage
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Alaina
- . February 22, 2023
- . Update: February 22, 2023 10:44 pm
Vienna announced on Tuesday that an Austrian had been given a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence in Iran for espionage and that it had summoned the Iranian ambassador.
The man’s incarceration was publicised by the foreign ministry in October, and it claimed to be in constant communication with his family.
He received a 7.5-year prison term for alleged espionage, the ministry reported, with two years of probation suspended in exchange for good behaviour.
It was informed of the judgement on Monday and called the Iranian ambassador to voice “our categorical displeasure” on Tuesday.
The article said that the individual was able to meet the Austrian envoy in Iran during three visits to the prison after his arrest.
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The ministry stated, “We will keep exploring every avenue to provide him and all other Austrian citizens detained around the world the best possible consular help.
At least 17 people with Western passports are being held in Iran, the majority of whom are dual nationalities, including two Iranians who are also Austrian citizens. Tehran maintains that everyone has gone through a fair legal process.
But, rights organisations and their supporters claim they are innocent and that they are being kept as hostages as part of a strategy to pressure other governments into making concessions. There might be more cases than have been officially reported, activists worry.
An Iranian-German man whose supporters claim was kidnapped overseas and brought back to Iran against his will for a sham trial was given the death penalty by an Iranian court on Tuesday. The sentencing has been denounced as “inhuman” by Germany.
