Iranian-Swedish death row scientist accuses Sweden of neglect

Ahmadreza Jalali, an Iranian-Swedish scientist currently sentenced to death in Iran, accused the Swedish government of neglecting his case in an audio message from Evin Prison.

In the message, which was sent to his wife, Vida Mehrannia, and received by Iran International, Jalali said: "I have been abandoned under these horrific conditions, with the imminent threat of execution looming. It appears that because of my dual nationality, I am regarded as a second-class citizen."

As part of a prisoner exchange agreement in June, Sweden repatriated a former Iranian official convicted of war crimes, Hamid Nouri, in exchange for the release of two Swedish citizens, Johan Floderus, an EU representative, and Saeed Azizi, who had been detained in Iran on charges of "spying for Israel."

However, Jalali, who was sentenced to death in October 2017 on charges of “corruption on earth”, was left behind in Iran.

“Swedish authorities are aware of my situation, yet no actions have been taken to improve it," he added.

"It seems that what might happen to me as a Swedish citizen is not a priority for Swedish officials. I face the risk of death, either by execution or due to my deteriorating health condition."

Since last year's prisoner exchange, Jalali has criticized the decision, describing the Swedish government’s exclusion of him as discriminatory.

In June, he publicly challenged the Swedish Prime Minister to meet with his son and family to explain why he was left behind and what actions would be taken to support them in the event of his execution.

Jalali's trial in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 15, was criticized by Amnesty International for relying on confessions obtained under torture.