Iran’s use of hostage diplomacy to secure the release of an Iranian official convicted of ‘war crimes’ has been criticised by those who appeared in his trial.
The Swedish Prime Minister called his country’s own prisoner swap a ‘cynical negotiations game’ in which his citizens were used by the Islamic Republic of Iran as ‘pawns.’
"The government of Sweden gave amnesty to Hamid Nouri, and this is a disaster. This is a tragedy for justice." In a statement to SBS, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said “Foreigners in Iran, including Australians, are at a high risk of arbitrary detention or arrest. Australia stands resolutely against the use of arbitrary detention, arrest and sentencing to exercise diplomatic leverage.”
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