Concerns Mount Over Silent Djalali After Nearly Two Months of No Contact
Ahmadreza Djalali has been missing for nearly two months, raising grave concerns about his safety after last communication in June.
Key Points
- • Djalali has been missing for nearly two months with no proof of life.
- • Last communication occurred on June 23 after an attack on Evin Prison.
- • Sweden's government demands clarity on his whereabouts and safety.
- • Djalali's health has deteriorated in custody, exacerbated by a heart attack in May.
Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian researcher sentenced to death in Iran, has not been heard from for nearly two months, prompting serious concerns about his safety and well-being. His last communication with his family occurred on June 23, following an attack on Evin Prison, where he has been imprisoned for over nine years.
During that last call, Djalali assured his family he was unharmed but indicated that he, along with many other prisoners, was to be relocated due to the attack. Since that move, he has vanished, raising alarms among his supporters and advocates. Despite repeated demands for proof of life from the Swedish government and Djalali’s family, Iranian authorities have failed to provide any confirmation of his status.
Advocates, including Lars Adaktusson, a former member of the Swedish parliament, emphasize the psychological distress endured by Djalali's family amid this uncertainty. Furthermore, there have been three promises from Iranian officials concerning Djalali’s ability to communicate with his family, which have gone unfulfilled, intensifying fears for his health, particularly after a reported heart attack he suffered earlier in May without access to adequate medical care.
Reports of a conflict within Iran’s security services regarding Djalali's fate have surfaced, further increasing concerns about his safety. While many other prisoners have been returned to Evin Prison and have resumed some form of communication, Djalali remains silent—a situation described as unusual by Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the founder of Iran Human Rights.
Djalali was arrested in 2016 while visiting Iran for a seminar on disaster medicine and was sentenced to death in 2017 for espionage charges, which he contests as being obtained under torture. His health has reportedly taken a significant downturn during his time in prison, with the lack of medical attention raising alarms among human rights groups.
Despite the international attention surrounding his case, particularly after Sweden’s recent prisoner exchange with Iran—which did not involve him—Djalali's situation remains precarious as advocates continue to call for clarity and action from the Iranian government.