“We think Mr Vandecasteele has been arbitrarily deprived of his liberty and is a victim of enforced disappearance for durations of detention,” the impartial UN human rights specialists claimed in a assertion. “His proper to a honest demo just before an impartial and impartial tribunal has been violated. These are flagrant violations of Iran’s obligations beneath global legislation,” they explained.
Mr. Vandecasteele was arrested on 24 February 2022 by Iranian safety agents and held at Evin jail ahead of getting moved to an mysterious place of detention. He was in Tehran to conclusion his rental agreement and relocate his household furniture at the time of his arrest. In their statement, the UN professionals declared that he had suffered ill-treatment method in detention and his wellness condition was crucial.
The seven men in basic-clothes who arrested him reportedly unsuccessful to show an arrest warrant and reveal the expenses versus him. Mr. Vandecasteele was subjected to multiple interrogations, but law enforcement authorities failed to convey him ahead of a judge right up until November 2022.
Held in solitary confinement
The UN industry experts reported the Belgian national’s access to a lawyer was denied, that he was not permitted to converse regularly with his relatives, and that he experienced limited access to Belgian consular solutions. In accordance to the assertion, Mr. Vandecasteele was transported blindfolded to Evin prison from his solution detention centre to meet up with with consular officials.
Mr. Vandecasteele was held in solitary confinement since the earliest times of his detention in Evin jail. Just after he was moved to an unknown locale in August 2022, he was held in a windowless area found in the basement with no home furniture. According to stories received by the UN gurus, Mr Vandecasteele has lost 15 kilos and suffers from major wellness difficulties. In November 2022, 10 months immediately after he was arrested, Mr Vandecasteele launched a two-7 days hunger strike.
In November 2022, recounted the statement, Mr. Vandecasteele informed Belgian consular officers that he had appeared right before a court docket without the knowledge of local Belgian authorities. Iranian lawyers assigned to Mr Vandecasteele did not speak in the course of the trial, but he was informed that he had been convicted of all fees. On 14 December 2022, Mr. Vandecasteele’s household was notified that he had been sentenced to 28 decades of imprisonment.
Psychological and bodily health fears
In accordance to local information studies, Mr. Vandecasteele had been sentenced to 40 yrs of imprisonment and 74 lashes on expenses of espionage versus the Islamic Republic, cooperating the United States, forex smuggling, and income laundering.
“We are gravely concerned around the psychological and bodily overall health of Mr. Vandecasteele and contact on the Iranian authorities to launch him and warranty his actual physical and psychological wellbeing,” the professionals said.
In October 2022, at least 21 overseas and twin nationals were being detained, principally on espionage prices. In November, Iran’s judiciary indicated that 40 international nationals experienced been arrested for their involvement in the protests.
The statement to launch the lots of international and dual countrywide citizens who stay arbitrarily detained in Iran, and condems the execution on 14 January of the British Iranian, Alireza Akbari following he was sentenced to demise for “corruption on earth and harming the country’s inner and external security”.
“Alireza Akbari was reportedly subjected to torture and sick therapy like prolonged solitary confinement and compelled to make bogus confessions,” they explained.
