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Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele has been sentenced to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes after a 30-minute trial in Iran. He’s been tortured, isolated and denied healthcare. 

Oliver was arrested by the Revolutionary Guard in February 2022. They took him to the notorious Evin prison, but today, his family doesn’t know where he is. 

They have learned from brief phone calls that he is being held in solitary confinement, in a windowless basement cell, with bright lights turned on 24 hours a day. 

He’s lost 25kg and his toenails have fallen off. He’s getting sicker every day. 

On 10 January 2023, Iranian state media announced that he was sentenced to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes. His trial lasted only 30 minutes. 

The Belgium Minister of Justice has said that Olivier’s arrest was a consequence of the conviction of Asadollah Asadi, a former Iranian diplomat who is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Belgium.

The Iranian authorities are known to take foreigners hostage for leverage, but international pressure can significantly improve their chance of freedom. We know that when people take action, it has led to people being freed from prison in Iran. 

Take action today, and call for Iran to release Olivier Vandecasteele.

 

Sign the Petition

  Our Petition
 
 

Head of judiciary
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei
c/o Embassy of Iran to the European Union
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt No. 15
1050 Bruxelles
Belgium

Dear Mr Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei,

I urge you to immediately reveal Olivier Vandecasteele’s whereabouts and, in light of his arbitrary detention, release him immediately. 

Pending this, he must be protected from further torture and other ill-treatment, provided access to regular phone calls to family, adequate healthcare, a lawyer of his own choosing and unhindered consular assistance from Belgium. 

A prompt, independent, effective, and impartial investigation into those suspected of ordering, committing, aiding or abetting unlawful acts against Olivier Vandecasteele, including hostage-taking, torture and enforced disappearance, must be conducted and all those suspected of such offenses brought to justice in fair trials before ordinary civilian courts.

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]