French citizen Benjamin Briere is still in an Iranian jail despite his acquittal, his lawyer said on Thursday.
Mr Briere was detained in May 2020 and later sentenced to eight years in prison for espionage.
His lawyer Philippe Valent said the Iranian appeals court had cleared his client of all charges and ordered his release on February 15, AFP reported.
But Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the branch of the security forces entrusted with the preservation of the regime, “are keeping him imprisoned despite this declaration of innocence”, Mr Valent said.
“His release was prevented at the last moment,” he said.
Mr Briere has been on hunger strike for a month. He is being held in a prison of Vakilabad in the eastern city of Mashhad, where he is “exhausted physically and mentally”, Mr Valent said.
Mr Briere is one of several foreigners Iran has jailed in a strategy of hostage-taking to extract concessions from the West, campaigners say.
The French Foreign Ministry told AFP it was “concerned about the situation of Mr Briere”.
“France is calling for the immediate release of all French nationals,” it said.
Charges called 'fiction'
Mr Valent has previously described the espionage charges against his client as “fiction”.
He said on Thursday their “arbitrary nature” was “blatantly obvious”.
A copy of the appeals court judgement stated that Briere “was not present in the forbidden and sensitive places of the country and did not take any pictures or videos” of those places.
He was “only a foreign tourist” whose “personal items and equipment were not used for espionage”, the judgement stated.
“There is not sufficient evidence to establish a crime, and the verdict is issued for the acquittal of Mr Benjamin Briere,” it read.
“This situation is completely incomprehensible,” said Mr Briere's sister, Blandine.
She said the family had decided not to report the appeals court's verdict earlier in the hope that the situation might be resolved quietly.
Another detainee in Iran, 64-year-old Franco-Irish citizen Bernard Phelan held since October 1, in January suspended a hunger strike that included refusing water, at the request of his family, who feared for his life.
Mr Phelan, a Paris-based travel consultant, was arrested while travelling and is being held in Mashhad.
Iran accuses him of anti-government propaganda, a charge he has denied.
Six French nationals are currently held in Iran.
The ministry has repeatedly condemned Iran for what it calls “hostage diplomacy”.
Overall, Iran is holding at least 17 Western nationals, most of whom have dual nationality. They are described by their supporters as innocents used by Tehran as levers for negotiation.
Iran is one of the world's most sanctioned countries, with Western powers over the past four decades using a punishing array of measures in a bid to push change.
France on Thursday called developments in Iran's nuclear programme “very concerning” after the UN nuclear watchdog reported finding uranium particles enriched just under the 90 per cent needed for an atom bomb.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
8.50pm The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Majestic Thunder
7.05pm Commanding
7.40pm Mark Of Approval
8.15pm Mulfit
8.50pm Gronkowski
9.25pm Walking Thunder
10pm Midnight Sands
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Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis