Evin prison in Tehran. Reuters
Evin prison in Tehran. Reuters
Evin prison in Tehran. Reuters
Evin prison in Tehran. Reuters

Iran arrests German citizen over suspected espionage


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Iran has arrested a German citizen for allegedly taking photographs of an oilfield, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.

The media did not name the man, and Iran’s judiciary has yet to comment.

“The German national was detained while taking photos of Aghajari oilfield in Khuzestan province,” the report said.

Iran has detained scores of foreign and dual nationals in recent years, in many cases accusing them of espionage — charges condemned as baseless by experts and rights groups outside the country.

Foreign governments have often characterised those detained as hostages, used to secure diplomatic leverage. Iran has detained three German-Iranians in the past year.

Iran also holds three French nationals, with one man, Benjamin Briere, sentenced to eight years in jail on spying charges.

Last week, Iran executed British-Iranian citizen Ali Reza Akbari, having accused him of handing secrets to the British government. Mr Akbari’s execution was widely condemned by the UK, US and EU.

Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'

Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.

Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.

"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.

"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.

"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."

Updated: January 17, 2023, 11:19 AM