Bernard Phelan, the Franco-Irish detained since the beginning of October in Iran, "suspended" his hunger and thirst strike at the request of his family, who feared a fatal outcome in the absence of care provided by the authorities Iranians, her sister told AFP on Friday, January 20. 

"Bernard agreed to read our words and he suspended his hunger and thirst strike, but he is still in danger", explained Caroline Massé-Phelan, specifying that he had not received any treatment.

“He is determined and is ready to start again if nothing moves,” she added.

"I am terribly worried because he has not seen a doctor, he has a huge drop in blood pressure, he is not well," she also said, noting that the Iranian authorities seemed inflexible.

A 64-year-old tourism consultant, Bernard Phelan was arrested on October 3 during a trip as part of his activities as a "consultant in Iran for a tour operator", his sister testified earlier this week. 

He is one of seven French nationals detained in the country.

Accused of anti-regime propaganda

He went on a hunger strike on January 1 and then quit drinking on Monday, leading to a rapid deterioration in his health as he suffers from heart disease and bone disease.

On Wednesday, his condition was deemed "critical".

Bernard Phelan was arrested shortly after the outbreak of mass protests in Iran to denounce the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian girl, who died following her arrest by the vice squad for an alleged violation of the dress code for women. women.

He has not yet been tried, but he is accused of anti-regime propaganda, which he has always denied. 

Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin promised on Thursday that Dublin would do everything “possible” for his release.

His French counterpart, Catherine Colonna, wrote this week to the Iranian authorities.

Paris and Dublin are hoping for a release on humanitarian grounds.

With AFP

The summary of the

France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 app