Death Row Inmate Djalali to Go on Hunger Strike

The Swedish-Iranian researcher Ahmadreza Djalali is starting a hunger strike on Wednesday in protest against the Swedish government, according to his wife Vida Mehrannia to Aftonbladet.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: June 24 2024

Death Row Inmate Djalali to Go on Hunger Strike
Photo: Amnesty International

Share this article

The Swedish-Iranian researcher Ahmadreza Djalali is starting a hunger strike on Wednesday in protest against the Swedish government, according to his wife Vida Mehrannia for Aftonbladet.

"Ahmadreza now feels that he has no other choice but to go on a hunger strike. He has already suffered nearly 3,000 days of unbearable torment in Iran's prison cells and is in extremely poor health", she writes to the newspaper.

Ahmadreza Djalali, a doctor and researcher at the Karolinska Institute, has been imprisoned in the notorious Evin Prison in Iran since he was arrested in 2016, accused of espionage. In October 2017, he was sentenced to death. The following year, Djalali became a Swedish citizen.

Recently, the Swedes Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi were released from Evin Prison through a prisoner exchange. This sparked great frustration from Djalali and his wife, who have, among other things, accused Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (The Moderate Party) of leaving Djalali helpless.

According to Vida Mehrannia's statement, the hunger strike is taking place "in protest against the Swedish government's decision to leave Djalali behind".

"This hunger strike is very life-threatening, Ahmadreza knows this better than anyone else – but he sees no other alternative"."

The government has previously stated that they tried to include Djalali in the prisoner exchange, but Iran refused to discuss his case, as he is only seen as an Iranian citizen.

We have negotiated the best possible deal for Sweden. Had we locked ourselves into a deal that only included Djalali, our very firm opinion is that we would not have achieved anything at all, said Ulf Kristersson earlier.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

NATO to Set Up Signal Company in Sweden's Enköping
1 MIN READ

NATO to Set Up Signal Company in Sweden's Enköping

Kiruna Faces Major Relocation as 6,000 Residents Must Move Due to Mining
2 MIN READ

Kiruna Faces Major Relocation as 6,000 Residents Must Move Due to Mining

Five Dead in Sundbyberg Elevator Crash; CEO and Fitters Charged
2 MIN READ

Five Dead in Sundbyberg Elevator Crash; CEO and Fitters Charged

Kiruna Residents Face Relocation as LKAB Expands Iron Ore Mine
2 MIN READ

Kiruna Residents Face Relocation as LKAB Expands Iron Ore Mine

Teenager Seriously Injured in Öland A-Traktor Accident
1 MIN READ

Teenager Seriously Injured in Öland A-Traktor Accident

Christian Democrats Lead in Taxpayer-Funded Party Expenses
3 MIN READ

Christian Democrats Lead in Taxpayer-Funded Party Expenses

E4 Closed in Both Directions After Truck Accident Near Gävle
1 MIN READ

E4 Closed in Both Directions After Truck Accident Near Gävle

Värmdö Demands Action After Fatal Bridge Accident
2 MIN READ

Värmdö Demands Action After Fatal Bridge Accident

Unique Spiked Dinosaur Spicomellus Discovered in Africa
3 MIN READ

Unique Spiked Dinosaur Spicomellus Discovered in Africa

Housing Costs Threaten Participation at Climate Summit in Brazil
2 MIN READ

Housing Costs Threaten Participation at Climate Summit in Brazil

Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Flemingsberg Shooting
1 MIN READ

Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Flemingsberg Shooting

Chinese Goods Most Frequently Seized by EU Customs in 2024
1 MIN READ

Chinese Goods Most Frequently Seized by EU Customs in 2024

Harmful Boxwood Moth Spreading Rapidly Across Sweden
1 MIN READ

Harmful Boxwood Moth Spreading Rapidly Across Sweden

Man Found Dead in Kristinehamn Archipelago; Murder Investigation Launched
1 MIN READ

Man Found Dead in Kristinehamn Archipelago; Murder Investigation Launched

Shooting in Flemingsberg Leaves Two Men Injured
1 MIN READ

Shooting in Flemingsberg Leaves Two Men Injured

Scania Healthcare Workers Urge Sweden to Accept Gaza Patients
1 MIN READ

Scania Healthcare Workers Urge Sweden to Accept Gaza Patients

Person Released After Detention in Kallhäll Double Murder Case
1 MIN READ

Person Released After Detention in Kallhäll Double Murder Case

SOS Alarm Resolves Nationwide Technical Issues Affecting Ambulance Dispatch
1 MIN READ

SOS Alarm Resolves Nationwide Technical Issues Affecting Ambulance Dispatch

Two Seriously Injured in Head-On Collision on E14 in Åre
1 MIN READ

Two Seriously Injured in Head-On Collision on E14 in Åre

6,000 Residents to Relocate as Kiruna Mine Expansion Continues
1 MIN READ

6,000 Residents to Relocate as Kiruna Mine Expansion Continues