TEHRAN // Two Germans arrested last month as they tried to interview the son of a woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery came to Iran for "espionage", an official said yesterday.
"These two Germans came to Iran claiming to be tourists," said Malek Ajdar Sharifi, the justice department chief of East Azerbaijan province, the Fars news agency quoted.
"But the work of these two tourists in Iran and Tabriz, and the way they reported in Tabriz, shows that they came for espionage," he said. "The evidence for espionage was in their hands when arrested and they were planning a smear campaign against the Islamic republic."
On Monday, Iranian state-run television showed blurred footage of the two men "confessing" that they had been "tricked" into coming to Iran. According to a voiceover, the detainees pointed fingers at Mina Ahadi, an Iranian human rights activist. Ms Ahadi has launched a global campaign to halt the stoning of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani.
"I will sue Ms Ahadi when I am back in Germany," one of the detainees was quoted as saying.
"I accept I made a mistake. Since I had no information on the case, I was tricked by Ms Ahadi," the other man was quoted as saying.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
