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Rights group Amnesty International said he had been 'arbitrarily detained'. Reuters
Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, who was held hostage in Iran, is reunited with his sister Nathalie Vandecasteele at Melsbroek air base in Brussels on Friday. EPA
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The aircraft carrying Mr Vandecasteele, 42, lands in Brussels. EPA
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Mr Vandecasteele's relatives approach the plane to meet him. Reuters
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The aid worker spent 455 days in jail and was sentenced to 74 lashes and 40 years in prison. Reuters
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He was freed in a swap with an Iranian diplomat jailed in Belgium in connection with a failed bomb plot. Reuters
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Mr Vandecasteele was convicted of espionage and money laundering. Reuters
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There were fears he could have faced the death penalty on the espionage charge. Reuters
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Rights group Amnesty International said he had been 'arbitrarily detained'. Reuters
Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, who was held hostage in Iran, is reunited with his sister Nathalie Vandecasteele at Melsbroek air base in Brussels on Friday. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BRXMDM24SVLXMHNP3T27KIWSQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f57b796953601c13226e1a09a33018d05edd5dae1f01f4dd823939db6e9beed8&width=400&height=225)
The aircraft carrying Mr Vandecasteele, 42, lands in Brussels. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KBBN7DRX4JITMXSVKTGNZYQ3KU.jpg?smart=true&auth=31d6e563e559563a602051e7701fc14aee35bcc447d9d70b4ba9c6dbeeb41a25&width=400&height=225)
Mr Vandecasteele's relatives approach the plane to meet him. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ADRFKLONN2VRJALQYYAJ5TKV3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=3d4842462da02033462757ddbdbe32b287869868a0f4859764ef9f1c0e4f22af&width=400&height=225)
The aid worker spent 455 days in jail and was sentenced to 74 lashes and 40 years in prison. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OBLUGY6Z7D3FGWGPQL6YEBSTBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d5e8f2d3da8e9a411309ea202840127aa960eda71a79b0e3baebfce9567d8c1&width=400&height=225)
He was freed in a swap with an Iranian diplomat jailed in Belgium in connection with a failed bomb plot. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G7LA674NTUA22S7E6ZJSYQVJMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cd4e6eae4285258db54796ed2229607338b85a9cdda23bcae4200c9eb776aefd&width=400&height=225)
Mr Vandecasteele was convicted of espionage and money laundering. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YO3BT5VGNIZIUMMPDDV4LS6QJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9364e237dabfce3f330ad354bd8a660c89b7bf75be913260f633d99fe987eb7d&width=400&height=225)
There were fears he could have faced the death penalty on the espionage charge. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LGCPH6UMJRFZIUNQZQM7R4PQZY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4e9b8ca985ae9cec979e04ea807aacc3dca272bf98438814df8355c56360d39b&width=400&height=225)
Rights group Amnesty International said he had been 'arbitrarily detained'. Reuters