Sweden has intensified its efforts to secure the release of Ahmadreza Jalali, an Iranian-Swedish academic who has been on death row in Iran since 2017. Jalali’s situation has become increasingly dire due to his poor health, prompting Sweden to demand his immediate release on humanitarian grounds. The Swedish government summoned the Iranian ambassador to emphasize the urgency of Jalali’s situation, calling for his immediate access to medical care and reunification with his family.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry reiterated its request to visit Jalali in prison, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring his well-being. However, Jalali has expressed frustration with the Swedish government’s efforts, stating that his case does not seem to be a priority. His concerns were highlighted in a message forwarded by his wife, Vida Mehrannia, where he noted the risk of dying either by execution or due to poor health.
Jalali’s situation contrasts with recent releases of other foreign nationals from Iranian prisons. For instance, German-Iranian Nahid Taghavi and Italian journalist Cecilia Sala were recently freed, raising hopes for similar outcomes for other detainees. However, Jalali was not included in a prisoner swap last year that saw the release of two Swedish nationals, Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi, in exchange for a former Iranian prisons official.
The Swedish government maintains that it attempted to secure Jalali’s release during the same negotiations but was unsuccessful. Western countries have long accused Iran of using detained nationals as bargaining chips to extract concessions, a practice that has been widely condemned. On Friday, Sweden reaffirmed its opposition to the death penalty and demanded that Jalali’s sentence not be carried out.
The international community continues to monitor Jalali’s case closely, with many advocating for his release on humanitarian grounds. As tensions remain high between Iran and Western nations over the detention of foreign nationals, the fate of Ahmadreza Jalali remains a pressing concern.
