Swiss Citizens Who Commit Suicide In Iranian Prisons Are Called Taking Pictures Of Military Sites

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - A Swiss citizen who committed suicide in an Iranian prison on suspicion of espionage is said by Iranian authorities to have taken pictures of military sites.

Switzerland has asked for detailed information on the reasons for the arrest of a 64-year-old man who was traveling in Iran as a tourist.

"The person entered the country from Dogharoun (bordered Afghanistan) in October as a tourist in a car equipped with various technical equipment intended for different purposes," a court spokesman in Iran Asghar Mawangir said.

The prisoner hanged himself with a cloth after turning off his cell light so that it was not visible to the security cameras.

After passing through several provinces, he entered Semnan province and was arrested while in the military restricted zone, "he was arrested on charges of taking pictures of the military zone and collaborating with hostile countries," he continued.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has in recent years arrested dozens of people with dual citizenship and foreigners, mostly on charges related to espionage and security.

Human rights groups accuse Iran of trying to get concessions from other countries through the arrests. Iran denies this.