For more than three years, relatives of Massoud Mossaheb have been fighting for the release of the dual Austrian-Iranian citizen from Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. The 76-year-old is now on unlimited prison leave for medical reasons. Mossaheb is not allowed to leave the country for the time being.
He must report to the Iranian authorities on the spot every 14 days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vienna welcomed that the “intense diplomatic efforts have now paid off in the case of Mr. Mossaheb, he can now finally receive his much-needed medical treatment”. Austria misses no opportunity to address detention issues at the highest level, they are the subject of all talks with Iran’s representatives, it was stressed.
On Monday, the Mossahebs family thanked Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, the UN Secretary-General and the entire team of the Austrian Foreign Ministry. “Thanks to her intensive and tireless work for Dr. Massud Mossaheb’s medical release has finally become a reality,” the Free Massud initiative said on Twitter.
The secretary general of the Austro-Iranian Society was arrested in early 2019 while visiting Tehran. Mossaheb, who was in the Iranian capital as part of a project by Lower Austrian MedAustron, which has set up an ion therapy center in Tehran, was accused of espionage. Mossaheb was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a trial judged grossly unfair by human rights groups. In the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, the health of the Austrian, who suffered from several previous illnesses, deteriorated significantly. Mossaheb was therefore granted temporary leave from prison in the summer.
Two more Austrians in custody
On the other hand, there is no news about another Austro-Iranian dual national who has been imprisoned in Iran for years. Viennese IT expert Kamran Ghaderi was arrested in 2016 during a business trip to Tehran. He was also sentenced to ten years in prison on espionage charges and remains in Evin Prison.
Another Austrian has been imprisoned in the mullahs’ state since October. He was arrested during the current protests, the State Department said. It is unclear what the specific charges are against the man in custody in Uruhmie in northwestern Iran.
Source: Krone
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