Thu Jan 09 19:36:10 UTC 2025: ## Swiss National Dies in Iranian Prison; Circumstances Under Investigation
**Tehran, Iran** – The death of a Swiss national imprisoned in Iran on espionage charges has sparked an investigation. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death on Thursday, stating that its embassy in Tehran is working with Iranian authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
While Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported the prisoner, who was not initially named, died by suicide, the Swiss government is seeking clarification. Mizan cited Mohammad Sadegh Akbari, head of Semnan province’s justice department, stating the prisoner requested food from his cellmate, then took his own life while alone. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, according to the report. The prisoner was held in Semnan prison, approximately 180 kilometers east of Tehran.
Switzerland, which represents US interests in Iran, has been involved in several similar cases in recent years where dual nationals and foreigners have been arrested on espionage charges. Rights groups have alleged these arrests are used to extract concessions, a claim Iran denies.
This incident follows the recent release of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was freed after three weeks in Iranian custody on charges of violating Iranian law. Her release came amidst speculation of a possible link to the detention of an Iranian businessman in Italy. The Swiss government’s request for clarification on the death of its citizen underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding the detention of foreign nationals in Iran.
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