The Old Country Newsletter – Happy (belated) Independence Day!

The Recently Released Floderus: “Isolation Made Me Stronger“

After 790 days in captivity, including over 250 in solitary confinement, Swedish EU official Johan Floderus is finally back home. He recounts his ordeal in Iran, where he was falsely accused of espionage and faced the death penalty.

In April 2022, Floderus' life took a nightmarish turn. The 33-year-old was arrested at Tehran's international airport while returning from a holiday. Despite his background in Persian language and previous visits to the country, he found himself thrust into the depths of the notorious Evin Prison.

Blindfolded and stripped of his belongings, Floderus was thrown into a solitary cell, the silence punctuated only by the harsh glare of constant lights and the occasional trip to the toilet under camera surveillance. Fear, despair, and the constant crushing of hope threatened to consume him.

"I realized that I couldn't live on hope," Floderus explains. "I had to find meaning, purpose, and acceptance in my daily life, as it was."

A glimmer of hope emerged when he recognized the voice of Olivier Vandecasteele, a Belgian aid worker he had met years earlier. Trapped in adjacent cells, they communicated through the walls, their shared predicament a lifeline amidst the isolation.

Over time, Floderus shared his cell with Vandecasteele, who was released in May 2023, and Swedish-Iranian Saeed Azizi, who was freed in the same prisoner exchange that brought Floderus home.

"I've been in close contact with both of them since we got back," Floderus says.

The prisoner exchange, which saw Hamid Noury, convicted of serious crimes against humanity, released in exchange for Floderus, has drawn criticism. Noury's victims' families and those who believe the exchange emboldens Iran's hostage diplomacy have expressed outrage.

"I understand the anger," Floderus acknowledges. "I regret and I'm deeply sorry that those who have fallen victim to Hamid Noury's crimes have lost the sense of justice they felt they had with the conviction."

Floderus himself has faced criticism for his actions, with some arguing that someone in his position should have known better than to travel to Iran despite the lack of an official travel warning.

"If it hadn't been me, another Swedish citizen would have been taken hostage," Floderus asserts.

Despite the ordeal, Floderus has emerged stronger and more resilient. His story is a testament to the human spirit's ability to endure even the darkest of circumstances.

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A man with ties to the Telgenätverket gang was shot and killed in his Södertälje apartment early Tuesday morning, prompting police to warn of a heightened risk of retaliation.

The victim, known to police and believed to be involved in a longstanding inter-gang conflict, was found dead in his apartment after multiple gunshot wounds. Sources indicate that the Telgenätverket has since held meetings and may be plotting revenge attacks.

In response, police have increased their presence in Södertälje and are urging residents to be vigilant. While acknowledging the risk for more violence, they also point to a recent decline in overall shootings and homicides compared to previous years.

Key Points:

• A gang-related murder in Södertälje has raised concerns about retaliatory violence.

• Police have increased their presence in the area and are urging residents to be cautious.

• Despite the recent incident, overall shootings and homicides in Sweden are trending downward. Still, the number of young perpetrators of violent crimes has increased rapidly.

Gang violence remains a persistent issue in Sweden, particularly in Södertälje. While police are taking steps to address the situation, it's crucial for residents to stay informed and take precautions to stay safe.