Iranian authorities have sentenced imprisoned Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele to 28 years in prison, a spokesman for his family said.
The 41-year-old was arrested in Iran at the end of February and was temporarily imprisoned in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison on suspicion of espionage.
Belgium and Vandecasteele’s family insist he is innocent and is being held effectively hostage to force Tehran in its efforts to force Belgium to release an Iranian agent convicted of terrorism.
“The family are devastated,” spokesman Olivier Van Steirtegem told AFP after the Belgian government informed the family of the news.
“Can you imagine? If there’s no solution he could stay in prison until 2050. He’ll be almost 70,” he said, urging Belgium to find a way to revive a prisoner swap treaty, reports RTE.
Van Steirtegem said Vandescasteele’s family were invited yesterday to meet Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and several ministers.
Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne, the family ally said, had received a call from his Iranian counterpart conveying the court’s verdict, but had no details of the charges.
News of Vandecasteele’s conviction, which has not been publicly confirmed by the Iranian authorities, will reignite debate in Belgium over a prisoner exchange deal with Iran.
The De Croo government has in the past said this situation was the only option for a move and the family spokesman told AFP that remained the case at yesterday’s meeting.
“There is no plan B,” he stated.
Last week, the Belgian Constitutional Court suspended the controversial contract pending a final decision on its legality within three months.
Iranian government opponents have challenged the deal, which they say was “tailor-made” to allow the release of Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat who was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year.
An Antwerp court has found Assadi guilty of supplying explosives to a Belgian couple who were due to travel to Paris to attack a meeting of the exiled Iranian opposition.
Iran reacted angrily to the verdict, and the stalled prisoner swap deal was suggested as a way to secure Vandecasteele’s release, despite fears that it would be seen as a hostage-taking reward.
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