Sweden – Amnesty Sweden, Apr. 25, 2026
Today marks a decade since Ahmadreza Djalali was arrested in Iran. Back home in Sweden, his wife and children live with the absence. “You always have that hope for the next birthday or New Year or something—that he will be there then,” says his daughter.
Ten years ago, the Swedish-Iranian doctor and researcher Ahmadreza Djalali traveled to Iran to attend a workshop on disaster medicine. But once there, he was arrested by Iranian security services.
“When it happened, we first thought it was a mistake. I thought, ‘what if it takes one or two months?’ It felt unbearable,” says Ahmadreza’s daughter, who is now 23.
Iranian authorities accused Ahmadreza of being a spy for Israel, but no evidence has been presented. He underwent a deeply unfair trial in an Iranian revolutionary court, where they presented false “confessions,” which Ahmadreza has said were extracted under torture and threats to harm his family. These “confessions” were also broadcast on Iranian television.
He was then sentenced to death.
“We were shocked. I was 13 and didn’t even know what the death penalty meant,” says his daughter.
The family in Sweden
Back in Sweden are Ahmadreza’s wife, Vida Mehrannia, and their two children, who have lost ten years with their father during their upbringing.
“You always have that hope for the next birthday or Persian New Year or something—that he will be there,” she says, continuing:
“And then when the day comes and he hasn’t come home, it’s especially hard.”
When Ahmadreza was arrested, his daughter was 13 and his son was 4.
“My brother loves football, and there are many dads who are coaches. I know that’s something he really misses. He doesn’t talk about it as much anymore, but I see how it affects him. I remember that at his age, I didn’t feel comfortable with people knowing about our situation, so I tried to pretend everything was normal,” the daughter says, continuing:
“And for my mom, it has been very difficult. In many ways, it feels like her life has been on pause for ten years.”
When will dad come home?
During the ten years Ahmadreza has been imprisoned, his wife and children have fought for his release.
“Sometimes I daydream that he comes home. I get teary just thinking about it. I miss having breakfast with him every day.”
Over the years, there have been periods of particularly intense worry, but hope has always remained.
“I remember one time when he had been taken away for a period and we didn’t even know if he was alive. Then his brother called us, crying with joy. For a second, I thought dad had been released, and that feeling was incredible. Then I realized his brother was calling to say he had managed to reach him—not that he was coming home.”
