Swedish-Iranian scientist faces 'imminent risk of execution' in Iran

Swedish-Iranian scientist faces ‘imminent risk of execution’ in Iran

A Swedish-Iranian scientist sentenced to death in Iran on espionage charges may face execution as early as Wednesday, human rights groups and his wife have warned.

Ahmadreza Djalali was due to be taken from Evin prison to Rajai Shahr prison on Tuesday, a normal preliminary to an execution. Death sentences in Iran are often carried out on Wednesdays.

It would be one of the first executions of a dual national held in Iran, and comes only a week after Iran released the British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert in exchange for three Iranians accused of being part of a terror plot in Thailand.

The campaign group Iran Human Rights said: “Ahmadreza Djalali is at imminent risk of execution and only a strong and urgent reaction from the international community can save his life.”

The UN human rights rapporteur Agnés Callamard said: “The judge overseeing the arbitrary killing reportedly said the family would be granted a last-minute visit before his execution. Unconscionable. And unlawful. Human lives just pawns in international politics, tit for tat, no end in sight.”

Djalali’s wife, Vida Mehrannia, told the Guardian: “I spoke to him a week ago and what he said would happen is taking place. He will be executed at some point tomorrow, unless someone intervenes, I am not a political person, but all I can ask is that countries that have influence, maybe Austria and the US, will ask Iran to open his door and cancel his sentence. I hope the media will help me.

“I cannot tell my children what is happening these past four years or explain. How do I explain this?”

There was no official Iranian reaction to the reports, but the foreign ministry rejected suggestions earlier that it could intervene in cases of imprisoned dual nationals.

Swedish-Iranian scientist faces ‘imminent risk of execution’ in Iran