Imprisoned Swedish-Iranian academic set to go on hunger strike

Swedish-Iranian researcher Ahmadreza Djalali, who is on death row in Iran over what human rights groups consider to be fabricated charges of espionage, will begin a hunger strike on Wednesday, his wife, Vida Mehrannia, told The Local and other Swedish media. 

The hunger strike is in protest of being left out of a controversial prisoner exchange with Iran, which saw two other Swedish citizens return home this month. The Swedish government has argued it tried to get Djalali out too, but Iran refused to discuss his case.

“Ahmadreza now feels he had no option but to go on hunger strike. He has already suffered nearly 3,000 days of unimaginable torment in Iran’s dungeons and is in extremely poor health. He suffers from several medical conditions including heart arrhythmias, bracycardia, hypotension, chronic gastritis, anemia, and extreme weight loss following his previous two hunger strikes,” said Mehrannia.

“This hunger strike is highly life threatening, Ahmadreza knows this better than anyone else – but he sees no other option. This physician, loving husband, and father of two, wants to be reunited with his family. He wants to serve society once more as a dedicated doctor. He wants to be recognised and treated as a human being again. Ahmadreza is now pleading to the world for help. He needs this endless brutality to end. Please hear his anguished plea and amplify his voice with yours,” she added.

Amnesty International has called on Sweden’s government to “do everything” to ensure Djalali can return.

Swedish vocabulary: a hunger strike – en hungerstrejk

Landslide-hit motorway set to be re-inaugurated

King Carl XVI Gustaf will cut the ribbon at a ceremony declaring the E6 motorway again fit for use, reports Swedish public radio broadcaster P4 Väst.

The normally busy road has been closed to traffic at Stenungsund since September last year, when a massive landslide carried with it large chunks of the motorway, causing significant damage. Through a stroke of luck, it happened late at night and there were no fatalities.

The inauguration ceremony is set to take place on Wednesday next week, but the motorway won’t immediately reopen.

“We haven’t announced that date yet. There’s still some work to do, and before we know when that is finished we can’t say the exact date,” Camilla Hentschel, a spokesperson for the Swedish Transport Administration, told P4 Väst.

The Transport Administration has previously said it believes the road will reopen to traffic the second week of July.

Swedish vocabulary: a landslide – ett jordskred

Taylor Swift provides million-kronor boost to Stockholm economy

Taylor Swift’s three gigs in Stockholm in May gave the capital’s economy a boost, reports broadcaster TV4.

Swift’s visit generated 848 million kronor in tourism revenue, according to analysts Upplevelseinstitutet on behalf of Stockholm City Council, resulting in an extra 431 million kronor in tax revenue.

A total of 131,000 tourists descended on Stockholm for Swift’s concerts, and spent their money on hotel rooms, restaurant visits and entertainment.

Swedish vocabulary: money – pengar

For sale: Swedish land for 1 krona per square metre – on one condition

Located on the southern shore of Lake Vänern, Götene municipality, which is struggling with an ageing population and low birth figures, is looking to tempt more people to move to the area by offering buyers to pay just one krona per square metre of land.

“Absolutely anyone is welcome to buy one of the plots,” said mayor Johan Månsson. “There are no rules or requirements as to who is allowed to buy one. It would be absolutely fantastic if we could get people from abroad interested in buying plots here, too.”

The only requirement for interested buyers is that they must begin construction on their plot within two years of the purchase date, otherwise it will be given back to the municipality.

The campaign will be running throughout 2024 and 2025, Månsson said.

“After that it probably won’t be continued, as the economy will most likely go back to normal. But, of course, we’ll discuss that in the future.”

Swedish vocabulary: to buy – att köpa