Ahmadreza Jalali to Begin Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

The wife of Ahmadreza Jalali, a dual Iranian-Swedish doctor and researcher who has been imprisoned in Iran for eight years and sentenced to death, stated that her husband has announced he will go on a hunger strike from Evin Prison. Vida Mehran-Nia said on Tuesday, July 5, that her husband believes the only way for anyone in the world to hear his voice is to start a hunger strike on Wednesday. Mr. Jalali was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence agents in May 2016 when he traveled to Iran to attend a scientific conference. He was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on charges of espionage for Israel. On June 26, Sweden exchanged Hamid Noury, a former deputy warden of Gohardasht Prison, who was imprisoned in Sweden, for two Swedish prisoners. In protest against this action by the Swedish government, Ahmadreza Jalali previously stated in an audio file from Evin Prison addressed to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, "You decided to release me despite the risk of execution." Vida Mehran-Nia stated in a statement provided to AFP on Tuesday that "Ahmadreza, as a doctor, knows well that given his fragile physical condition, a hunger strike could potentially be fatal for him, but he has no other options." According to Ms. Mehran-Nia, her husband suffers from cardiac arrhythmia, low heart rate, low blood pressure, chronic stomach ulcers, anemia, and severe weight loss due to his two previous hunger strikes. Ahmadreza Jalali's wife told AFP, "This doctor, a beloved husband and father of two children, wants to reunite with his family. He wants to serve the community again as a committed doctor." Ms. Mehran-Nia said, "He wants to be recognized again as a human being and treated [as a human]." Mr. Jalali has stated that he needs global assistance to end this "endless brutality." Ms. Mehran-Nia also mentioned in an interview with the Swedish publication Aftonbladet that Mr. Jalali has been deprived of phone contact for several days, saying, "The last time I spoke to my husband on the phone, he said he would start his hunger strike on Wednesday." The Swedish government insists it has been trying to secure Jalali's release, but Tehran has refused to recognize him as a Swedish citizen, as Iranian security officials claim he acquired Swedish citizenship after his arrest in Tehran and that he only held Iranian citizenship at the time of his arrest. In response to criticism regarding Jalali's continued detention, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated in a radio interview on June 27, "I have great respect for their disappointment, but I really do not understand this criticism. The alternative would have been to release the two Swedes who have now returned to the country." Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström also stated in an email to Reuters on June 29 that Sweden has not given up on Mr. Jalali, saying, "Efforts to secure his release will continue." Ms. Mehran-Nia is scheduled to meet with Mr. Billström on July 2 to discuss her husband's case. The United Nations and human rights groups like Amnesty International have deemed Ahmadreza Jalali innocent and confirmed that he has been imprisoned in the "ruthless hostage diplomacy" of the Islamic Republic. These human rights organizations have repeatedly called for the unconditional release of this dual-national prisoner. Iranian security agencies have frequently arrested dual Iranian citizens and foreign nationals on charges of "acting against national security" and "espionage," and in some cases, have used them as leverage in negotiations with Western countries as a means of pressure and "extortion" in foreign policy.