Imprisoned Swedish Researcher's Wife: Discrimination

Her husband Ahmadreza Djalali risks being executed in Iran at any moment. Despite this, no one contacted Vida Mehrannia when Sweden is now for the first time making a prisoner exchange to bring home other Swedes. The news came instead from her husband, over the phone from the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: June 15 2024

Imprisoned Swedish Researcher's Wife: Discrimination
Photo: Privat

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Her husband, Ahmadreza Djalali, risks being executed in Iran at any moment.

Despite this, no one contacted Vida Mehrannia when Sweden is now making a prisoner exchange for the first time to bring home other Swedes.

The news came instead from her husband, over the phone from the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran.

Have you heard the news?

Ahmadreza Djalali was allowed to call home on Saturday after the news was made public in Iranian media. Sweden has for the first time agreed to a prisoner exchange with the dictatorship. In exchange for life-sentenced Hamid Noury, convicted of complicity in the mass executions of political prisoners in 1988, Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi will be released and allowed to return home, announces Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Has been isolated

Nowhere does he mention Ahmadreza Djalali, a father of two and researcher at the Karolinska Institute, who was imprisoned in 2016 and sentenced to death in 2017 for "corruption on earth" after visiting his old homeland to lecture on disaster medicine.

His wife, Vida Mehrannia, shook when she heard what had happened.

I have no other words to describe it with than discrimination, she says to TT.

He was granted Swedish citizenship in 2018, while in captivity. He has endured harsh treatment and been held in solitary confinement for long periods. It is barely possible to recognise him in pictures taken during his time in prison.

Changed message

Vida Mehrannia says that the Swedish message previously was that Sweden has no agreement on prisoner exchange with Iran. But all that changed when Johan Floderus was imprisoned in 2022. According to many observers, he was taken captive as a direct reaction to the Swedish verdict against Hamid Noury.

They had the same verdict, both accused of spying for Israel. But they have not prioritised my husband.

If they really see us as Swedish citizens, why don't they make an equal effort for my family? says Vida Mehrannia.

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

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