TEHRAN, Jan. 13 (MNA) – Iranian Judiciary's Deputy Chief for International Affairs and Secretary General of the Islamic Republic of Iran's High Council for Human Rights criticized Sweden’s government for violating human rights in Hamid Nouri's case.

Kazem Gharibabadi said that the government of Sweden presents itself as a human rights claimant, while it is itself a big human rights violator.

Referring to Hamid Nouri’s case in Sweden, Gharibabadi added that from the beginning of Hamid Nouri's arrest to the trial and issuance of a verdict against him, the Swedish government and judiciary have repeatedly violated Nouri's rights in various forms.

Hamid Nouri did not have a fair trial and was prohibited from contacting his family for many months, he said, adding that Nouri was restricted from choosing a lawyer, and his prison conditions were very difficult.

Pointing to the lengthy time of issuing the indictment of Nouri, which lasted more than a year, Gharibabadi said that the Swedish judicial system did not have any documentation against Nouri.

After the verdict against Nouri and his appeal, the Swedish judicial system rejected some of the lawyers he had introduced and asked him to introduce other lawyers, he added.

Noting that Sweden claims human rights, but has rejected Nouri's lawyers under various pretexts, he noted that it is unfortunate that the timing of the Swedish judicial system to deal with this case is also unfair.

He reiterated that Nouri has committed no crime and he is an innocent person in Swedish prisons, adding that the Swedish government should release him as soon as possible and pay him damages.

A few months ago, Hamid Nouri in an audio file said that he had been tortured while in custody and was denied medical care despite suffering from eye problems.

A Swedish court conducted a hearing based on the testimony of about 60 members of the terrorist organization MKO, who claimed that Nouri played the role of a prison guard nearly four decades ago.

The court did not allow any of the witnesses to testify in favor of the Iranian citizen.

Hamid Nouri has been imprisoned in Sweden since October 2019. He spent some of his incarceration terms in solitary confinement and was deprived of the right to choose a lawyer, contact or visit his family members, meet the so-called witnesses, and even visit a physician for health issues.

MNA/IRN84997134