We finally know why the Belgian humanitarian Olivier Vandecasteele has been imprisoned in Iran for months, and why he was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Iran suspects him of spying. His conditions of detention are still very difficult and his state of health is worrying.
Olivier Vandecasteele, this Belgian humanitarian worker detained in Iran for several months, is officially accused of espionage by the regime, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib confirmed on the basis of an exchange she had with her Iranian counterpart by the past.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Iranian judiciary said that a Belgian currently detained in Iran was accused of acts of espionage. Olivier Vandecasteele being the only Belgian currently imprisoned in Iran, it might logically only be him.
On Wednesday, Minister Lahbib confirmed that it is because of espionage charges that the Belgian is being held in Iran. “For Belgium, Mr. Vandecasteele is innocent and must be released. Until then, we demand an improvement in his conditions of detention”, insists the cabinet of Mrs. Lahbib. On the occasion of Christmas, the Belgian had been authorized by the regime to give a phone call to his family.
During this interview, Olivier Vandecasteele repeated how difficult his conditions of detention were. Last month, the Belgian was sentenced to 28 years in prison. However, this conviction was never officially made public, according to Foreign Affairs.
“During numerous diplomatic and political contacts, up to the highest level in recent months, we have demanded his release and an immediate improvement in his conditions of detention”say Foreign Affairs. “Olivier Vandecasteele’s situation is and remains a priority for the minister, her department and the Belgian government, which is doing everything to obtain his release”. The Belgian’s fate, however, seems to be linked to that of Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian agent convicted in Belgium for a planned attack once morest the Iranian opposition planned in France.
Belgium had negotiated a treaty with Iran to allow the exchange of prisoners between the two countries, but the Constitutional Court suspended this treaty last month.
