Olivier Vandecasteele has been stuck in Iran for one year

The family’s hopes are now focused on March 8. Then the Constitutional Court rules on an exchange with an Iranian prisoner, who has been convicted of terrorism in our country. Nathalie Vandecasteele: “We are now 1 year later and there is still no clarity about the solution that will be found to get Olivier out of it. The stress is increasing. It is becoming increasingly difficult, also for the family, to cope to hold.”

No one could have ever imagined that Olivier Vandecasteele would still languish in an Iranian cell one year after his arrest. And every day counts. A mock trial led to his conviction, but negotiations for his release have since stalled. All hope is now focused on the Constitutional Court, which will rule on March 8 on a possible prisoner exchange with the Iranian terrorist Assadi, who is imprisoned in our country. “If there was any other solution not to release Assadi, it would have already been done. And that is the problem. It is the only solution to get Olivier released.”

But the family cannot imagine that the Constitutional Court would again reject the prisoner exchange. And so everyone is clutching at straws, but giving up is out of the question. “What we need even more is more support from all Belgians to put pressure on our government. The Belgians, as soon as there is a decision from the Constitutional Court, positive or negative, must take action anyway to get Olivier released .”

On Sunday, another campaign will be held in five cities to increase the pressure.