Swiss National Who Died in Iranian Prison Photographed Military Locations, Tehran Claims

Iran’s judiciary has said that a Swiss national who died in an Iranian prison earlier this month was arrested after taking photographs of sensitive military sites, Al Jazeera reports.

The judiciary claims he later died by suicide in his cell.

Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, said the unnamed man entered Iran last year through the Dogharoun border crossing with Afghanistan. Jahangir added that the man, who entered as a tourist, had “a variety of technical equipment with difficult uses” in his vehicle.

Swiss officials had previously confirmed the death of a 64-year-old Swiss national who they said was visiting the country as a tourist. They noted that he had been living in Southern Africa and had not resided in Switzerland for nearly two decades.

Jahangir clarified that the man was born in Namibia, held Swiss citizenship, and entered Iran in the Iranian calendar month of Mehr, which ended on October 21. Iran has maintained that the man died by suicide while in custody.

According to Jahangir, on January 9, the Swiss national cut off electricity to his cell and took his own life in an area not visible to prison cameras. He said that attempts to revive the man were unsuccessful.

Following the incident, Jahangir said that a delegation from the Swiss embassy, including a trusted doctor, was invited to the site.

While the judiciary has not specified the exact locations involved, it is worth noting that Semnan, where the man was imprisoned, is a city in central Iran and home to numerous large military installations. These include major satellite and ballistic missile testing and launch facilities, making the region a sensitive area.