Who Is Olivier Vandecasteele? Iran Jails Belgian Aid Worker For 28 Years

Iran has sentenced Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele to 28 years in prison, his family confirmed on Wednesday, saying the charges against him are "unknown".

Vandecasteele, 41, was arrested during a brief visit to Tehran in February and accused of espionage. His family on Wednesday said they had been informed of his sentence at a meeting with Belgium's prime minister.

There was no confirmation from Iran, but the news comes days after Belgium's constitutional court halted a controversial prisoner exchange treaty. According to BBC, Iran wants to swap Vandecasteele for its alleged top intelligence official in Europe, Assadollah Assadi. He was given a 20-year jail sentence in Belgium last year for plotting to bomb an exiled Iranian opposition group's rally.

Who Is Olivier Vandecasteele?

Vandecasteele worked for six years in Iran for the Norwegian Refugee Council and other aid agencies. He left the country last year but returned in February to close down his apartment in Tehran.

During his brief visit, the social worker was arrested and reportedly taken to Tehran's notorious Evin prison. His family alleges that he has been subjected to "inhumane conditions" and has now spent "278 days in complete isolation in a windowless basement cell."

His health problems are increasing, including significant weight loss, blood pockets on his toes, loss of fingernails and worrisome dental and stomach problems, media reports. According to his family, Vandecasteele has also been on a hunger strike for 14 days protesting his detention, consuming only some bread and water in the morning.

Vandecasteele's family insists he is innocent. “The family are devastated,” spokesman Olivier Van Steirtegem told Agence France Presse after the Belgian government informed the family of the news.

“Can you imagine? If there’s no solution he could stay in prison until 2050. He’ll be almost 70,” he said, urging Belgium to find a way to revive a prisoner swap treaty.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo's office said he had promised the family to "continue to explore all possible avenues that could lead to the return of Olivier Vandecasteele."

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