The newly released Belgian former aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele has lost 30 kg during his imprisonment in Iran, but he is "mentally strong," his friends, lawyer and 'support committee' stated during a press conference on Saturday morning.
Vandecasteele was detained for 455 days in an Iranian prison on alleged charges of espionage, before he was swapped for Assadollah Assadi – a convicted Iranian terrorist who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Belgium in February 2021 for his involvement in a foiled Paris bombing.
"It was a clear transition from what seemed like hell yesterday and feels like paradise in Belgium today, after being deprived of all your rights as a person for months," Vandecasteele's friend and spokesperson Olivier Van Steirtegem told reporters.
'Democracy belongs to all of us'
"It is now time for the reunion. This terrible case can finally be closed," he said. "We are lucky to live in a country that does not abandon its citizens, even in an extremely difficult situation."
Vandecasteele himself, who only arrived at Melsbroek Military Airport at 21:30 on Friday evening, was not present at the press conference, explained Van Steirtegem. He also called on the press to respect the privacy of Vandecasteele and his family.
While the prisoner exchange with Iran's regime has been heavily criticised, Van Steirtegem brushed those aside: "Democracy belongs to all of us, we should cherish it and not constantly criticise it. Otherwise, we must work for it. Our thoughts are with all the hostages and their families in Iran and elsewhere. Do not lose hope."
Credit: Belga
Vandecasteele was detained in an Iranian prison for nearly 1.5 years before he was handed over to a Belgian delegation in Oman on Friday morning. In a written statement, family and friends look to the future and emphasise that his second battle starts now: "rebuilding what was destroyed during the 14 months of solitary confinement, fear, deprivation and sleeplessness."
"Olivier is a strong man. He worked for three years in Afghanistan, among the addicts in Kabul, and was also in Iran for six years," Van Steirtegem said. Mentally, Vandecasteele is doing reasonably well, but he has lost 30 kg and is being medically monitored.
In prison in Iran, he was allowed to leave his cell three times a week to walk on a court. There, he sometimes walked up to 20 km.
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A few hours after Vandecasteeke landed at Melsbroek military airport, his sister Nathalie reacted to the release on her social media.
"Olivier is extremely relieved but, like us, has not yet fully realised that he is back with us, safe and sound. He is obviously very weakened mentally and physically so we are happy to let him regain his strength in peace," she said. "We will give him all the time he needs to do so and will lovingly adapt to his rhythm in the coming weeks."
