Iranian-Swedish scientist's execution on hold for 'next few days'
Amnesty International said Ahmadreza Djalali's execution has been halted for now, but his fate is unclear. The rights group, Sweden and the UN are protesting Iran's treatment of him.
A leading human rights group said Thursday that an Iranian-Swedish scientist’s execution has been halted — at least for now.
Ahmadreza Djalali’s planned execution is on hold for the “next few days,” a spokeswoman for Amnesty International told Al-Monitor.
Djalali, an emergency medicine specialist, was arrested in Iran in 2016. He was charged with espionage, and later sentenced to death on the charge of “corruption on earth.” Amnesty International said the charge is vague and that his confession was extracted via torture.
Djalali was reportedly to be put to death late last month, which prompted intervention from the Swedish government. Djalali is a citizen of both Iran and Sweden, and his family lives in the latter. Iran does not recognize dual citizenship and rejected Sweden’s involvement.
