Swedish aid worker on trial in Iran, Swedish government demands release
The trial of Swedish aid worker Johan Floderus is now underway in Iran, as reported by TT. Floderus was arrested at Tehran airport during a private trip over 600 days ago and has been imprisoned ever since. The charges against him are still unclear, and the Swedish government is demanding his release.
Sweden’s chargé d’affaires was present in the court, but was not allowed to participate in the trial. “Sweden has reacted against this and has requested permission to be present when the trial resumes,” said Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade and EU Affairs Anna Hallberg in a comment to DN.
The Swedish government and the embassy in Tehran are working intensively to bring the 33-year-old home after his arbitrary imprisonment. “There is no basis whatsoever for keeping Johan Floderus in custody, let alone bringing him before a court. Both Sweden and the EU have presented this with great clarity to representatives of Iran,” said Hallberg.
Floderus is currently detained in Evin Prison, known for its harsh conditions. According to his father, Floderus’ cell has no bed and the light is on 24 hours a day. He only has sporadic access to food and a telephone.
“We are deeply concerned and repeat again and again: He has been arbitrarily imprisoned. He has done nothing wrong and should be released,” said his father.
Floderus, who is not an Iranian citizen and has no roots in the country, works with aid issues for the EU’s foreign service and has worked closely with Sweden’s EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson.
The Swedish government’s demand for Floderus’s release comes amid increasing tensions between Iran and the West. The trial of Floderus has raised concerns about the treatment of foreign nationals in Iran, and the Swedish government is calling for his immediate release.