Families of Europeans detained in Iran call for ‘common front’

The families of Europeans detained in Iran today called on Europe to set up a “common front” and link the “continuation of negotiations with Tehran to the immediate release” of all foreign nationals arrested or convicted in Iran.

“So far, diplomacy has proved powerless to secure the release of any European nationals held hostage,” the statement said, referring to “families, friends and supporters of European hostages being held in Iran” for security reasons.

“We call on all European governments to set up a common front and make immediate release” a condition for the resumption of negotiations with the Islamic Republic, “according to a text sent to AFP.

“Maintaining relations with a state that systematically disregards the rules of diplomacy and does not respect any principle is no longer tolerated by our public opinion,” the statement added.

Asked by Agence France-Presse whether the families are seeking a severance of diplomatic relations with Iran, Beatrice Ibou, a member of the support committee for French-Iranian researcher Fariba Adelkah, who has been detained since June 2019, explained: to awaken the European diplomacy that is gradually getting used to the unacceptable, and to remind that in two days a European hostage can be executed “.

Iran is accused of holding foreign nationals, mostly dual nationals, in a bid to secure Western concessions on sensitive issues under way, such as the nuclear deal, or to secure the release of Iranians. prisoners.

Their exact number is not known but it concerns at least 10 people. A Swedish-Iranian university student, Ahmedreza Jalali, who has been sentenced to death for espionage, is in danger of being executed on May 21.

Last week, two Frenchmen were arrested in Iran.

Tehran, for its part, argues that prisoners are being held on the basis of an independent judicial process, without state intervention.