Iran convicts a French tourist of propaganda against the regime and espionage
1-June-2021
Category: Uncategorized
1-June-2021
Newsgroup: Prisoners –
Breathing in Confinement: Saeed Dehghan, a lawyer, announced the conviction of Benjamin Briere, a detained French tourist.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Benjamin Briere, a detained French tourist, was convicted in court. He had been arrested last year by security forces and was transferred to Vakilabad prison in Mashhad for taking some photos as well as asking questions about the mandatory hijab on social media.
Benjamin Briere’s last trial was held in March 2021 in Mashhad Court. According to Saeed Dehghan, the defendant’s lawyer, photographing from prohibited areas and asking the question on social media of “why is hijab mandatory in the Islamic Republic but optional in other Islamic countries?” have been incited to as evidence against Mr. Briere for the charge of propaganda against the regime. Saeed Dehghan added that his client did not have any drones and only had a regular camera.
Saeed Dehghan, Mr. Breyer’s lawyer, announced the news on his personal page, and continued that his client was convicted of espionage and propaganda against the regime, and that his other two charges, corruption on earth and alcohol consumption were dropped. This verdict was issued by Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office more than two months after Mr. Briere’s last defense.
The French tourist’s sister stated that she had short contacts with her brother and that he could not explain about the case as the calls were being recorded. She called the charges as “unacceptable” and called for French President Emmanuel Macron to intervene the case.
France in a statement, denied the charges against Benjamin Briere, a French tourist detained in Iran.