Iran says Swiss citizen died in detention for photographing military sites | Politics news

The Iranian judiciary confirms that the unidentified man died by suicide after being arrested on charges of espionage.

Tehran, Iran – The Iranian judiciary says A Swiss citizen died in an Iranian prison He was arrested earlier this month after taking photos at sensitive military sites.

Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday that the man, whose name was not mentioned, entered Iran through the Dogaron border crossing with Afghanistan in Razavi Khorasan Province, northeast of the country, last year.

Jahangir said his car contained “a variety of technical equipment with difficult uses” and he entered it as a tourist.

Swiss officials, who had earlier confirmed the man’s death, had identified him as a 64-year-old who was visiting the country as a tourist. They said he was living in southern Africa and had not lived in Switzerland for nearly two decades.

The Iranian judiciary spokesman said on Wednesday that the man was born in Namibia, holds Swiss citizenship, and entered the month of Mehr in the Iranian calendar, which ended on October 21.

He added, “The person entered Semnan Province after passing through several governorates, and was arrested at a prohibited military site while filming him.” He was arrested on charges of photographing limited resources and collaborating with a hostile government and taken to prison. At the same time, the Swiss embassy in Tehran was informed.”

Iran said that the Swiss citizen, whose name was not mentioned, died by suicide while in prison.

Jahangir said that on January 9, the Swiss citizen cut off the electricity to his cell and committed suicide in an area of ​​the cell that was not visible to the prison’s camera system. Attempts to revive him failed.

The spokesman said that a delegation from the Swiss embassy, ​​including a trusted doctor, was invited to the site.

“They examined the body and confirmed suicide. The body was taken to the coroner’s office in Tehran and handed over in the presence of representatives of the Swiss embassy,” Jahangir said.

Semnan is located in central Iran and is home to several large military sites, including major ones Test and launch facilities for satellites and ballistic missiles.