Iran has initiated the trial of Johan Floderus, a Swedish national employed by the European Union, on charges of spying for Israel and “corruption on earth,” a crime that could result in the death penalty. The Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported online on Sunday that Floderus was indicted for “corruption on earth, widespread activities against national security, [and] wide intelligence cooperation with the Zionist regime,” referring to Israel.
The offense of “corruption on earth” carries the death penalty under Iran’s Islamic laws.
Johan Floderus, aged 33 and employed by the EU diplomatic service, was detained on April 17, 2022, at Tehran airport upon his return from a trip with friends. Currently held in Tehran’s Evin prison, Mizan news agency published images of Floderus in a pale blue prison uniform, handcuffed, appearing before judges as the charges were read.
According to Iran’s judiciary, Floderus, through projects associated with U.S. and European institutions, allegedly gathered intelligence for Israel. Officials claimed he maintained contact with multiple suspects in Iran and had visited Israel before traveling to Iran. The statement accused Sweden of engaging in proxy spying for Israel. a Swedish national employed
While Sweden confirmed on Sunday that Floderus’s trial had commenced in Iran, it did not specify the charges he is facing.
Johan Floderus has been arbitrarily detained and every accusation and charge is false,” a spokesperson for Sweden’s Foreign Ministry said in an emailed comment to the Reuters news agency.
“We have conveyed this clearly to Iran at different levels and times, the most recent being yesterday [Saturday].”