IRAN - Benjamin Briere and Bernard Phelan

IRAN - 2 foreign citizens released from Iranian prisons

May 12, 2023:

(May 12, 2023) - 2 foreign citizens released from Iranian prisons
Benjamin Briere and Bernard Phelan
According to HRANA, quoting ISNA News Agency, French citizen Benjamin Briere and French-Irish citizen, Bernard Phelan were released from prison.
Catherine Colonna, the French foreign minister, attributed the freedom of Briere to diplomatic negotiations between Iran and France. Colonna revealed that she spoke with Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian about their release, and Brier and Phelan are on their way back to France.
In May 2020, Briere was arrested by security forces. According to Figaro, he was arrested for flying a small drone in a deserted area in Iran.
On January 25, 2022, after being detained for over 600 days at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad City, Briere was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for “espionage and propaganda against the regime” by Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad. Two other charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “alcohol drinking” was dismissed by the court. In July of the last year, this verdict was upheld on appeal.
As for Bernard Phelan, the Iranian embassy in Ireland stated that his release was due to amnesty for humanitarian reasons and for showing goodwill in diplomatic relations between Iran and Ireland.
Phelan, who is 64 years old, was arrested by Iranian security forces during his last trip to Iran on October 3, 2022. He was later identified by the Irish Times as being held in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.
Phelan’s sister has previously stated that he was sentenced to six years and six months in prison for allegedly “providing information to another country,” among other charges.

https://www.en-hrana.org/french-citizen-benjamin-briere-released-from-iranian-prison/
https://www.en-hrana.org/french-irish-citizen-bernard-phelan-freed-from-jail-in-iran/