Member of the European Parliament Hannah Neumann led a petition addressed to EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell concerning the prolonged imprisonment of an EU citizen by the Islamic Republic.
In a message on X social network, MEP Neumann along with Cornelia Ernst, Bart Groothuis, and Dietmar Köster, expressed their concerns, stating, "We have some questions regarding the hostage-taking case of Johan Floderus."
Johan Floderus, a 33-year-old member of the EU diplomatic corps, has been held covertly in Iran for over 500 days as part of Iran's hostage diplomacy, as reported by The New York Times. Floderus was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2022, during what was described as a private tourist trip with friends.
MEP Neumann said the issue raises concerns for the safety of other EU citizens. "Any European in Iranian captivity is one too many. However, with the arrest of Johan Floderus, the Iranian regime is escalating the situation further and worsening already strained relations. This incident is outrageous and requires prompt clarification," she said.
The letter directed to Josep Borrell seeks answers to critical questions, including how long the EU has been aware of the Swedish citizen's imprisonment in Iran, reasons behind the lack of public communication on this matter, and the measures undertaken by the EU to secure the release of Floderus.
Members of the European Parliament have pressed Josep Borrell for answers, urging him to respond to the inquiries urgently.
