The Swedish-Iranian imprisoned researcher Ahmadreza Djalali in Iran is to go on hunger strike in protest against the Swedish government.
I fully understand the desperation that both he and his relatives are feeling, says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (The Moderate Party).
The hunger strike is to begin on Wednesday, according to Djalali's wife Vida Mehrannia.
Recently, the Swedes Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi were released from Evin Prison through a prisoner exchange. The fact that Djalali was not included in the exchange has sparked great frustration among Djalali and his wife. They have, among other things, accused Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of leaving Djalali helpless.
I fully understand his and his family's desperation, but it is completely incorrect. We did everything we could to get him out together with the other two Swedes. Absolutely everything, says Kristersson.
According to the Prime Minister, it was "completely impossible".
Iran did not even want to discuss his name, says Kristersson.
He claims that the Foreign Ministry has more information about Djalali's case that "makes it extremely complicated". The government has also shared this information with the opposition parties.
We have done exactly everything we can and we continue to do so. We regard him as a Swedish citizen, naturally. But it is a very special case and I do not intend to go into any details. That would jeopardise his safety.
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.
