British Government Rejects Prisoner Swap Proposal Involving Iranian-Detained Couple
Officials denied reports of a proposed exchange between a British man convicted of stalking and a couple held in Iran. The couple received 10-year sentences last year on espionage charges.
ukdefencejournal.org.ukBritish officials rejected a reported proposal to exchange a man convicted of stalking for a British couple detained in Iran. The denial came after the couple's family appealed for government assistance. Iranian authorities had suggested the exchange during talks with the government and the family.
They lost an appeal hearing held without their presence. The man proposed in the exchange was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004 after being convicted of stalking and attacking 200 people. Prosecutors collected over 1,000 statements and heard testimony from 109 witnesses.
A family member expressed concern about the couple's conditions and urged officials to consider all options. The same family member asked why the proposed exchange was ruled out if it was not viable. Officials said prisoner swaps occur in some cases but stated the specifics in this instance would not be appropriate.
They added that giving attention to the reported proposal could hinder other efforts to secure the couple's release. A former foreign secretary advised caution, noting that any action should avoid encouraging further detentions by Iran.
