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| Irish man on hunger and water strike in Iran prison | Irish man on hunger and water strike in Iran prison |
| (1 day later) | |
| Bernard Phelan has been imprisoned in Iran since October 2022 | Bernard Phelan has been imprisoned in Iran since October 2022 |
| Concern is growing for a man from the Republic of Ireland who is on hunger and water strike in an Iranian prison. | Concern is growing for a man from the Republic of Ireland who is on hunger and water strike in an Iranian prison. |
| Bernard Phelan was arrested on 3 October during a wave of anti-government protests that have seen millions take to the streets. | Bernard Phelan was arrested on 3 October during a wave of anti-government protests that have seen millions take to the streets. |
| The 64-year-old is originally from Clonmel, County Tipperary, but grew up in Blackrock, County Dublin. | The 64-year-old is originally from Clonmel, County Tipperary, but grew up in Blackrock, County Dublin. |
| As a dual-citizen, Mr Phelan was travelling on a French passport at the time. | As a dual-citizen, Mr Phelan was travelling on a French passport at the time. |
| He was arrested for allegedly taking photographs of police officers and a mosque which had been burned. | He was arrested for allegedly taking photographs of police officers and a mosque which had been burned. |
| How we are uncovering the protests and crackdowns in Iran | How we are uncovering the protests and crackdowns in Iran |
| He is one of seven French citizens currently detained in Iran and is being held in a cell in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, Iran's second largest city. | He is one of seven French citizens currently detained in Iran and is being held in a cell in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, Iran's second largest city. |
| Mr Phelan has denied multiple charges including disseminating anti-regime propaganda and taking pictures of security services. | Mr Phelan has denied multiple charges including disseminating anti-regime propaganda and taking pictures of security services. |
| He has been on hunger strike since New Year's Day, protesting his incarceration, and on Tuesday accelerated action by refusing liquids. | He has been on hunger strike since New Year's Day, protesting his incarceration, and on Tuesday accelerated action by refusing liquids. |
| Conditions inside the prison are said to be cramped, with 16 people sharing a cell amid freezing night-time temperatures. | Conditions inside the prison are said to be cramped, with 16 people sharing a cell amid freezing night-time temperatures. |
| It is understood some of Mr Phelan's block mates have been executed. | It is understood some of Mr Phelan's block mates have been executed. |
| There was widespread outrage earlier this week after a British-Iranian citizen, Alireza Akbari, was executed. Mr Akbari had been convicted of spying for the UK, which he denied. | There was widespread outrage earlier this week after a British-Iranian citizen, Alireza Akbari, was executed. Mr Akbari had been convicted of spying for the UK, which he denied. |
| Watch: The protests currently sweeping Iran have their roots in changes made after the 1979 revolution | Watch: The protests currently sweeping Iran have their roots in changes made after the 1979 revolution |
| Watch: The protests currently sweeping Iran have their roots in changes made after the 1979 revolution | Watch: The protests currently sweeping Iran have their roots in changes made after the 1979 revolution |
| 'No beef with Iran' | 'No beef with Iran' |
| Mr Phelan's sister, Caroline Massé-Phelan, told The Irish Times she now fears for her brother's life. | Mr Phelan's sister, Caroline Massé-Phelan, told The Irish Times she now fears for her brother's life. |
| "We want them to let him go. It is of no interest to anybody to keep him as a prisoner. He is very sick now. He has a heart condition, he has a bone condition. | "We want them to let him go. It is of no interest to anybody to keep him as a prisoner. He is very sick now. He has a heart condition, he has a bone condition. |
| "He has been drinking tea and drinks with sugar in them. Now he has stopped that and we are very worried. It can be fatal. | "He has been drinking tea and drinks with sugar in them. Now he has stopped that and we are very worried. It can be fatal. |
| "He is an Irish citizen who has no beef with Iran," she said. | "He is an Irish citizen who has no beef with Iran," she said. |
| Mr Pelan had been living in Paris, France and was in Iran while working for a tourism company. | Mr Pelan had been living in Paris, France and was in Iran while working for a tourism company. |
| "All he was doing was promoting Iran as a tourism destination. Both the Irish and French authorities have been working hand in hand in relation to this," Ms Massé-Phelan said. | "All he was doing was promoting Iran as a tourism destination. Both the Irish and French authorities have been working hand in hand in relation to this," Ms Massé-Phelan said. |
| When he announced his protest, Mr Phelan said he understood the associated risks and that he would "hold the Iranian government totally responsible for any resulting negative repercussion on [his] health". | When he announced his protest, Mr Phelan said he understood the associated risks and that he would "hold the Iranian government totally responsible for any resulting negative repercussion on [his] health". |
| Iran protests: 'No going back' as unrest hits 100 days | Iran protests: 'No going back' as unrest hits 100 days |
| Who are the protesters facing execution in Iran? | Who are the protesters facing execution in Iran? |
| French government officials issued a statement on Mr Phelan's case on Tuesday. | French government officials issued a statement on Mr Phelan's case on Tuesday. |
| They confirmed Mr Phelan is one of seven French nationals currently held in Iran, and they are "extremely worried about his health, which is poor and requires appropriate medical monitoring, which is not ensured in detention". | They confirmed Mr Phelan is one of seven French nationals currently held in Iran, and they are "extremely worried about his health, which is poor and requires appropriate medical monitoring, which is not ensured in detention". |
| "We are stepping up the pressure on Iran, in co-ordination with the Irish government, to ensure that our compatriot is released without delay," the French foreign ministry said. | "We are stepping up the pressure on Iran, in co-ordination with the Irish government, to ensure that our compatriot is released without delay," the French foreign ministry said. |
| The Republic of Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said it was "aware of the case and has been providing consular assistance, in close coordination with France, since the outset". | The Republic of Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said it was "aware of the case and has been providing consular assistance, in close coordination with France, since the outset". |
| "The case has also been raised directly with the Iranian authorities, stressing the health condition of Mr Phelan and making the case for his urgent release on humanitarian grounds," the department added in a statement. | "The case has also been raised directly with the Iranian authorities, stressing the health condition of Mr Phelan and making the case for his urgent release on humanitarian grounds," the department added in a statement. |
| "As with all consular matters, the department does not comment on the details of any specific case." | "As with all consular matters, the department does not comment on the details of any specific case." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Middle East | Middle East |
| Europe | |
| Republic of Ireland | Republic of Ireland |
| France | France |
| Iran | Iran |
| 2022 Iran protests | 2022 Iran protests |