Diplomat Swap: EU Envoy from Sweden Released from Iranian Imprisonment
Diplomat Floderus, a European Union representative, was nabbed in April 2022 and faced possible execution based on accusations of spying. The second Swedish citizen, Saeed Azizi, had been detained by Iranian forces since November 2023. Both landed at Stockholm Airport on a Saturday evening at 19:20. According to Prime Minister Kristersson, their health was "fair considering the circumstances." Floderus' father Matts remarked to the Swedish News Agency TT that the family was "unnaturally thrilled."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell were relieved by Floderus' release.
As a trade, Swedish authorities freed Hamid Nuri, who was serving a life sentence in Sweden. A report from Iranian state television stated that Nuri arrived in Teheran on a Saturday afternoon (local time) and was greeted by relatives and government officials.
Six-three-year-old ex-prison officer Nuri was apprehended at Stockholm Airport in 2019 following a complaint against him by Iranian dissidents in Sweden. In 2022, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for "grave violations of international law" and "murder." Nuri maintained his innocence, saying the allegations were "manufactured."
The Swedish court discovered that Nuri had been an assistant to the deputy prosecutor at a prison near Teheran at the time of the offense. He picked up inmates under a fake name and posing as the deputy prosecutor's assistant, and then escorted them to the execution committee and the execution site.
During the final stretch of the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), thousands of Iranians were executed across the country. Around 5000 prisoners' executions were ordered by Revolutionary Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, and primarily aimed at members of the outlawed opposition movement of the People's Mujahedin.
Nuri's freedom from Sweden in light of the prisoner swap was lambasted by Iranian opposition groups residing in exile. The People's Mujahedin argued that Sweden would incentivize the Iranian regime to "intensify terrorism, hostage-taking, and extortion" with this action.
Prime Minister Kristersson acknowledged the criticism. "I comprehend that this prisoner exchange stirs conflicting emotions, especially among Swedes with Iranian heritage," Kristersson addressed reporters. The decision was not an easy one for his government.
In a statement, Kristersson stated that Iran had utilized Floderus and Azizi as "pawns in a ruthless bargaining game" to secure Nuri's release. As a government leader, Kristersson held a "particular obligation for the safety of Swedish citizens."
According to reports from Oman, the agreement on the prisoner exchange was facilitated through Oman's mediation. The governments of the two countries subsequently agreed to release the citizens of each other's state, as reported by the state-owned Omani news agency.
Eight citizens of European nations are still imprisoned in Iranian jails. Among them is the German-Iranian Jamshid Sharmahd, who has been jailed since the summer of 2020 due to terror-related charges and received a death sentence in February 2023.
Read also:
- Following the prisoner exchange, the EU expressed its gratitude to the Swedish government for their role in securing the release of EU diplomat Floderus.
- Under the terms of the prisoner swap, Sweden released Iranian prisoner Hamid Nuri, who was serving a life sentence in Sweden for alleged violations of international law.
- The Swedish government, led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, defended their decision to release Nuri, arguing that they had a responsibility to protect Swedish citizens and secure the release of EU diplomat Floderus and Swedish citizen Saeed Azizi from Iranian detention.
- The release of Hamid Nuri in light of the prisoner exchange was met with criticism from Iranian opposition groups, who argued that Sweden was incentivizing the Iranian regime's terrorism and hostage-taking.
- The Swedish police played a role in apprehending Hamid Nuri at Stockholm Airport in 2019, following a complaint against him by Iranian dissidents in Sweden.
- The EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell welcomed the release of EU diplomat Floderus, praising Sweden for their "strong commitment to the protection of diplomatic personnel."
- According to reports, the agreement on the prisoner exchange was facilitated through Oman's mediation, with both Iran and Sweden agreeing to release citizens of each other's states.
