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Irishman Bernard Phelan released from Iranian prison

Mr Phelan (64), who works in tourism, had been detained in Iran since October 3rd 2022
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

14.30 12 May 2023


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Irishman Bernard Phelan releas...

Irishman Bernard Phelan released from Iranian prison

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

14.30 12 May 2023


Share this article


Irishman Bernard Phelan has been released from prison in Iran, his family have said.

His sister Caroline said they "received confirmation" of his release on Friday.

"[We] cannot express how relieved we are," she said in a statement.

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"So many people have been involved in making this moment happen and we want to thank everybody.

"Bernard has been held captive for over 200 days, so at this time we gratefully ask that he is given the time and space needed to recover, " she added.

Bernard Phelan. Picture by: Supplied

Mr Phelan (64), who works in tourism, had been detained in Iran since October 3rd 2022.

He had been convicted of providing information to an enemy country, which he denied, and sentenced to 6.5 years in prison.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said Mr Phelan, a dual Irish-French national, is "now on his way home to his family."

"I am deeply appreciative of the efforts of the French government and my counterpart, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, for their work to resolve this case," Mr Martin said.

"I spoke to the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, yesterday and I acknowledge the assistance of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in relation to Mr Phelan's release.

"I am also very grateful to our consular team in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, our diplomats on the ground in our mission in Tehran, and our ambassador in Turkey accredited to Iran," he added.

'Deeply concerned'

Amnesty International said Mr Phelan's detention was arbitrary "due to the gravity of violations of his fair trial rights" - including the right to access an independent lawyer of his own choosing, adequate defence and to meaningfully challenge the legality of his detention.

"Amnesty International remains deeply concerned about the Iranian authorities’ practice of using detained dual and foreign nationals as leverage, and again urges all states whose nationals are or have been detained at any point in Iran to promptly examine whether the deprivation of liberty amounts to an act of hostage-taking, and if so, to ensure accountability," the human rights body said.

Benjamin Briére, a French national who was imprisoned with Mr Phelan in Mashhad Prison, has also been released.

Main image: Bernard Phelan. Picture by: Supplied

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Amnesty International Benjamin Briére Bernard Phelan Caroline Catherine Colonna Hossein Amir-Abdollahian Human Rights Iran Iranian Prison Irish-French National Mashhad Prison Micheál Martin

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