Olivier Vandecasteele

Olivier Vandecasteele is an aid worker from Belgium who received a heavy prison sentence in Iran. He had worked in Iran for international NGOs for six years.

<coverage-outsourcing id='49459'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/IranIntl/status/1544040852015685633'> He was arrested in Iran. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='49460'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/IranIntl/status/1544253800390737923'> Iran International reported that the Belgian Minister of Justice has confirmed his arrest in Iran. His family says he is in solitary and they have only been able to call him once. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='49461'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2022/hranews/a-36849/'> The family of Olivier Vandecasteele released a statement announcing that their son's health has deteriorated. VRT media in Belgium reported that the family says Mr. Vandecasteele is being denied medical care and is being kept in a solitary cell in a locked basement without a window or air conditioning and has no access to an attorney. They said they had a brief call with their son and he is in complete isolation and in bad health but doesn't receive sufficient treatment. His mental health has also been affected by the situation. He has been charged with espionage. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='49462'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2022/hranews/a-38365/'> RTL reported that a court in Iran sentenced him to 28 years in prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='49463'> <reference source='https://www.radiofarda.com/a/iran-sentences-belgian-aid-worker-to-40-years-lashes/32217409.html'> The judiciary's Mizan website reported that Olivier Vandecasteele has been sentenced to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes by the revolutionary court. He was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for spying for foreign intelligence agencies, 12 years and six months in prison for cooperating with enemy states against the Islamic Republic, 12 years and six months in prison and 74 lashes and 500 thousand dollars in fines on top of the original amount for money laundering. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>