The family of EU diplomat Johan Floderus continues to press for his release, as the Swedish national turns 33 years old in Iranian prison. The detained Swedish native’s family released a statement Sunday urging his release from Iran. Floderus was arrested at the Tehran Airport on 17 April 2022. Floderus was first arrested on 17 April 2022 at Tehran Airport. Since then, he has been in Iran’s Evin Prison for more than 500 days without being charged. His family describes the conditions under which Floderus was held. These include a prison that is constantly lit and a time limit of 3.5 hours per week for him to get fresh air or sunlight. In a statement, his family confirmed that Floderus had spent “over $300 days in solitary” under circumstances described as “
blatant disrespect of international guidelines”. Floderus also went on a hunger-strike to gain access to his phone calls. Since February 2023 he has had one short call per month, and one video call. During the video call, Floderus made a “desperate plea” for efforts to secure his release to increase.
The New York Times was the first to report on Floderus’ detainment at the Evin prison located in Tehran, and states that EU and Swedish authorities had kept quiet on the incarceration[in]. Josep Borrell Fontelles is the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union. He has affirmed that he will continue to push the Iranian authorities until they release Floderus. Fontelles said that this issue was pushed “relentlessly” at all diplomatic meetings. Floderus’ family also state that the
Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in close contact with them “in attempts to secure consular visits, phone calls, and meetings with the Iranian authorities”.The New York Times also stated that Floderus’ detainment forms part of a series of arrests carried out by Iranian authorities in order to secure the release of Iranian prisoners held in foreign jurisdictions or to meet other demands. BBC reports that Floderus has been detained along with several other foreigners and Iranians of dual nationality. Ahmadreza Djalali is an Iranian-Swedish doctor who has been in Iran since 2016. He was sentenced to die for “corruption on Earth”. Djalali’s supporters claim that the Iranian authorities are trying to pressure Sweden into releasing Hamid Nouri who is currently serving a life term in Sweden.