64-Year-Old Swiss Tourist Dies by Suicide in Iranian Prison Following Espionage Arrest

Jan 9, 2025, 06:14 PM

A 64-year-old Swiss national, arrested on espionage charges while visiting Iran as a tourist, has died by suicide in Semnan prison, located in Iran's Semnan province, according to Iranian judicial authorities. The incident occurred on Thursday, and the individual was reportedly held in a suite with another prisoner. The Swiss citizen had asked their cellmate to retrieve food from the prison canteen, and during the time they were alone, they took their own life. Despite immediate efforts by prison officials to save the individual, these attempts were unsuccessful. The chief justice of Semnan province, Mohammad Sadegh Akbari, confirmed the suicide, stating that all evidence and documentation supported this conclusion. The Swiss foreign ministry has confirmed the death and is in contact with Iranian authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding it.