Family of Swedish Diplomat Imprisoned in Iran Demands His Immediate Release

The family of a Swedish diplomat working for the European Union, who has been detained in Iran for over 500 days, called for his immediate release on Sunday. According to AFP, this request comes as he is imprisoned on his birthday. Johan Flodros's family stated in a statement: "Today, on Johan's thirty-third birthday, he should be with us celebrating... He must be released immediately and come home." The family of this EU diplomat also published a photo of him from the only contact he was allowed to have. According to AFP, Flodros was arrested on April 17, 2022, at Tehran airport while returning home from a trip with friends. This Swedish citizen was working for the EU delegation in Brussels on Afghanistan and has been in Evin prison since September 2021. The Islamic Republic announced two weeks after Hamid Nouri was sentenced to life in prison in Sweden for his role in the mass executions of thousands of the regime's opponents in the 1980s, that they had arrested a man on suspicion of espionage. Various countries have accused the Islamic Republic of "hostage diplomacy," claiming that it detains Western citizens to gain leverage. The family of the Swedish citizen stated that Flodros has become "another victim of Iran's concerning pattern of hostage-taking of foreign nationals for political purposes." They said: "The conditions under which Johan is imprisoned - 24-hour light in his cell - are unacceptable and violate the minimum standards set by the UN for the treatment of prisoners." Members of Flodros's family stated that his needs for adequate food, outdoor walks, medical examinations, and other matters are not being met, and noted that he has spent "over 300 days in solitary confinement." Flodros has had "very few" consular visits, the last being six months ago, and since February 2023, he has been allowed an average of one short phone call per month. Flodros's family mentioned that he had to go on a hunger strike to be able to make a call and was forced to speak in English and under supervision. According to the family of this Swedish diplomat, he requested to do more in hopes of returning home during the call. The only call Johan Flodros had with his family from Evin prison was on August 7, 2023. An Iranian judicial official stated that details of a prisoner exchange would be announced "upon the full implementation of agreements."