Dublin and Paris are mobilized about a Franco-Irish, Bernard Phelan, detained in an Iranian prison since October, said the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday January 13.
"
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance in close coordination with France
," a ministry spokesman told AFP.
"
This matter has also been raised directly with the Iranian authorities
," he added.
"Anti-Regime Propaganda"
Consultant in tourism based in Paris, Bernard Phelan, 64, is detained in Vakilabad prison in Mashad (east), Iran's second city, accused in particular of disseminating anti-regime propaganda and of having taken pictures of members of the security services, accusations which he disputes.
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He was arrested as the country was rocked by protests sparked by the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, who died after being arrested by vice squad for violating the Republic's strict dress code. Islamic.
Fragile health, worried family
Earlier this year, he went on a hunger strike, according to the Irish Times.
His family expressed their fears for the health of Bernard Phelan, who has a heart condition and, refusing to eat, has also stopped taking his treatment.
His sister Caroline Massé-Phelan, who denounces the conditions of his detention, believes that he is being held for political reasons between Tehran and Paris and was "
in the wrong place at the wrong time
".
Dozens of Western prisoners
Dozens of Westerners are being held in Iran, described by their supporters as innocents used by the Revolutionary Guards as leverage, as Iran and major powers try to resuscitate an international agreement struck in 2015 that guarantees civilian character Tehran's nuclear program, accused despite its denials of seeking to acquire atomic weapons.
Nationals of the three European countries involved in the talks - the UK, Germany and France - are among the foreigners detained in Iran.
Among the French, who numbered seven at the end of last year according to Paris, is notably Benjamin Brière, sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison almost a year ago.
Tehran has argued that all foreigners are detained under its domestic laws and said it is open to prisoner swaps.
