Ahmadreza Djalali, the Iranian visiting researcher at VUB (the Dutch-speaking Free University of Brussels), has been sentenced to death in Tehran. His alleged offence is collaboration with an enemy state. His wife Vida Mehrannia has made this known to the Belgian professor’s colleagues. Mr Djalali has decided to resume his hunger strike.
After a year and a half in prison, Ahmadreza Djalali was apparently informed by his lawyer on Saturday that he had been sentenced to death, for collaborating with an enemy state. This was according to a message sent to a Belgian colleague of the researcher.
The emergency doctor is awaiting confirmation of this judgement by an official channel in the country. However his situation remains tragic, despite both the pressure and action undertaken throughout the world to request his release.
His colleague Gerlant Van Berlaer indicated, “Prospects seem bleak for Ahmadreza who, having gathered a little strength, has decided to resume his hunger strike.” Mr Djalali has been in prison in Evin since 2016.
The VUB will get in contact with Italian and Swedish colleagues of Ahmadreza Djalali, with a view to considering further action to request his release.
The Brussels Times
