Olivier Vandecasteele | |
|---|---|
 Banner of #freeoliviviervandecasteele in Brussels (26 May 2023) | |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Occupation | Humanitarian worker |
Olivier Vandecasteele is an experienced Belgian humanitarian aid worker who was arbitrarily arrested and taken state hostage in Iran on 24 February 2022. Following a sham trial, he was firstly sentenced to 28 years in December 2022, then sentenced to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes in January 2023.[1] Vandecasteele was kept hostage "in unbearable conditions" [2] in Iran for 456 days. He was released on 26 May 2023. His case is considered to be "a flagrant violation of international law" following a.o. the United Nations and Amnesty International.[3]
In 2024, he founded "Protect Humanitarians", an independent and neutral NGO which aims to a.o. advocate for a better protection of humanitarian aid workers around the world.
- ^ Verkerk, Joris; van Straaten, Floris. "Belgische hulpverlener Vandecasteele na bijna anderhalf jaar in Iraanse gevangenis op vrije voeten" (in Dutch). NRC. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Belgian aid worker, Iranian diplomat freed in prisoner exchange". France 24. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
- ^ "Iran: UN experts say arbitrary detention of Belgian aid worker a flagrant violation of international law". OHCHR. Retrieved 2023-06-26.