Sweden – Sydsvenskan, Aug. 14, 2025
Sweden must not – as the United States and Germany have previously – be lulled into believing that the regime in Iran is bluffing about Swedish-Iranian Ahmadreza Djalali, who has been held in a death cell in Iran since 2017. This is written by American human rights lawyer Jason Poblete.
The Islamic Republic of Iran may be on the verge of executing yet another innocent European citizen.
Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian academic, has been held in a death cell in Iran since 2017 – sentenced in a sham trial on false charges of espionage. He has been subjected to torture, denied a fair trial, and used as a bargaining chip in the Iranian regime’s hostage diplomacy.
Despite previous death threats from Iranian authorities, the situation is now more urgent than ever. Time is running out. History has taught us: if we wait too long, it may be too late.
Sweden must not – as the United States and Germany have in the past – be lulled into believing that the regime in Iran is bluffing. Swedish authorities have received general assurances that Djalali “is doing well,” but have not been allowed to have direct contact with him to confirm his condition. Promised phone calls have repeatedly been postponed, raising further concerns about his fragile health.
In October 2024, the regime executed Jamshid “Jimmy” Sharmahd – a German-Iranian citizen and legal resident of California – despite global appeals for clemency. Even his family was told “not to worry.” Neither the United States nor Germany acted with the coordinated urgency that might have saved his life.
