Arrested in Tehran on February 24, 2022, Olivier Vandecasteele was arbitrarily detained in Iran under inhumane conditions. In complete isolation, with inadequate food, his health seriously deteriorated. Accused of “espionage” by the Iranian regime, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes on January 10 during an unfair trial where he was unable to have a lawyer of his choice. Olivier is now back in Belgium, with his loved ones.
“The news of his release is a relief and fills the Médecins du Monde community with joy,” says Joël WEILER, Executive Director of Médecins du Monde France. “Olivier, his family, and his loved ones deserve our utmost admiration for their courage during this ordeal,” he continues. “By targeting Olivier, the entire humanitarian community was affected! Humanitarians must not be targets,” recalls Joël WEILER.
The international community must guarantee an independent, impartial, and neutral humanitarian space so that NGOs can continue to provide aid without being put in danger.
Olivier Vandecasteele worked at Médecins du Monde France for several years: in Lyon for three years as the manager of the mobile outreach program for people experiencing homelessness, then in Kabul as the manager of a harm reduction program for people who use drugs for over four years. He later joined Médecins du Monde Belgium and its operations in Mali until 2015, before becoming a country director for various NGOs in Iran.
His detention and sentencing in Iran sparked a significant wave of solidarity in several countries, particularly in Belgium and France. NGOs remained mobilized throughout this difficult period, with several rallies organized and the publication of a petition and op-eds.