Swedish Media: Death Sentence for Ahmadreza Jalali, Researcher Residing in Sweden, Has Been Issued

Swedish media have reported that the "death sentence" for Ahmadreza Jalali, an Iranian doctor and researcher residing in Stockholm, has been "issued." Mr. Jalali was arrested last year on charges of "espionage" and was "threatened with execution" by Judge Abolqasem Salavati. On October 22, the Swedish state television channel, SVT, quoted Vida Mehrnia, Mr. Jalali's wife, stating that the lawyer of this imprisoned researcher contacted her and said he has been sentenced to death. According to this network, the matter is under review by the Swedish Foreign Ministry. The Swedish news agency TT also quoted Lina Eidemark, a staff member of the Swedish Foreign Ministry, saying, "We have received reliable information indicating that the death sentence has been issued to Ahmadreza Jalali. We are currently gathering information on this matter. We remind you that the Swedish Foreign Ministry opposes the execution of any death sentence." The Swedish website The Local also reported that the Swedish Foreign Ministry has raised the issue in discussions with senior officials at the Iranian embassy in Stockholm. However, Ms. Eidemark stated, "Overall, we must emphasize that he is a citizen of Iran and not a Swedish citizen, a matter that complicates the assistance to him by the Swedish government." The issue of Mr. Jalali's threat of a death sentence had previously been raised; Ms. Mehrnia had told Radio Farda in February 2017 that Judge Abolqasem Salavati had announced her husband's death sentence. Shortly thereafter, Amnesty International reported that this researcher and doctor residing in Sweden had been threatened with execution. The news of these "threats" was published at a time when Mr. Jalali had been on a hunger strike for more than a month and a half. Ahmadreza Jalali has been residing in Sweden since 2009 and held permanent residency in that country. He worked in the field of crisis management and was employed at Karolinska University near Stockholm. He has been in prison since May 25 last year on charges of "espionage" and "collaboration with an enemy state." Jalali had traveled to Iran in previous years at the invitation of educational and academic institutions. Amnesty International states that Ahmadreza Jalali was "pressured" to sign documents regarding espionage for an "enemy state." Following his refusal to sign these documents, he was threatened with a "moharebeh" (waging war against God) charge. In February of last year, an informed source told Radio Farda that a Ministry of Intelligence official recently told Mr. Jalali that "his case would be reviewed again"; shortly after that, however, Mr. Jalali's wife quoted Judge Salavati as saying that this imprisoned researcher "will no longer see that official."