Switzerland demands answers from Tehran regarding the death of its citizen in Iran
The Swiss Foreign Ministry says that a month ago, on December 10, Iranian officials informed the Swiss embassy in Tehran that a Swiss citizen had been arrested in Semnan on charges of espionage.
In the statement released on Friday, January 11, about the identity of this individual, it is mentioned that the Swiss citizen is a 64-year-old man who had traveled to Iran as a tourist and had not lived in Switzerland for about 20 years. According to the Swiss Foreign Ministry, this man had been living in South Africa.
The Swiss government states that since being informed of the arrest of this Swiss citizen, embassy officials have been following up on his situation and were in daily contact with Iranian authorities, requesting consular access to meet him. However, due to the nature of the charge against him, which was cited as espionage, they were not granted permission for a meeting or consular access.
On Thursday, January 10, Iranian media, quoting the head of the Semnan Province Judiciary, reported that a Swiss citizen who was imprisoned in Semnan on espionage charges had committed suicide and died.