Djalali, a doctor and researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Solna, was arrested in Iran in April 2016, accused of spying for Israel's sake, and has been sentenced to death. In 2018, he became a Swedish citizen.
When Swedes Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi were released last year in exchange for the war crimes convict Hamid Noury, Djalali was left behind. He believes that he was used as a pawn in a game to get the others out, but was himself left behind "ruthlessly and discriminatorily".
The fact that he has now been imprisoned for nine years shows that words and condemnations have no effect, he says in the recording. He emphasizes that joint efforts from the EU and Sweden are required to get him released, but believes that the authorities do not care whether he lives or dies.
If I die here, those who were negligent or indifferent all these years and left me behind when I could have come home are also responsible for my death.
In a written statement, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) says that Djalali's deteriorating health is worrying – and reiterates the government's demand that Iran immediately release him for humanitarian reasons.
"Ahmadreza Djalali and his relatives should know that my and the government's work to get him released continues with full force."
