Official statements from international organizations

64-Year-Old Swiss Tourist Dies by Suicide in Semnan Prison Amid Espionage Charges

Jan 9, 2025, 06:14 PM

A 64-year-old Swiss citizen, described as a tourist and resident of South Africa, who was detained in Iran on espionage charges, has died by suicide in Semnan prison, according to Iranian judicial authorities. The individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested by Iranian security institutions while collecting soil samples during an Israeli airstrike and was being held in a suite with another prisoner. Mohammad Sadegh Akbari, the head of the Semnan province's justice department, stated that the Swiss national requested food from the prison buffet and took his own life while alone in the suite. Efforts by prison officials to save him were unsuccessful. The Swiss Foreign Affairs Department confirmed the death and stated that the Swiss embassy in Tehran is in contact with local authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death. Iran has a history of detaining foreigners and dual nationals, often on charges of espionage or security-related offenses.