Spain’s prisoner plea

Betty Henderson

SPAIN is determined to secure the release of Santiago Sánchez, a Spanish national who has been detained in Iran since October 2022 for taking photographs of Mahsa Amini’s tomb.

The Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, gave a statement on Thursday, March 9 where he referred to the immense efforts by his ministry to release Sánchez for several months now. Albares explained he is unwavering in his commitment to bring Sánchez back home, but urged for discretion in the matter, since diplomatic talks are sensitive.

Alabares added that he recently spoke to his Iranian counterpart at the G20 conference, where he raised the subject of Sánchez’s imprisonment. He also referred to the successful release of fellow Spanish prisoner Ana Baneira, a 25 ­ year ­ old backpacker who returned home to A Coruña on Thursday, March 2.

Sánchez was arrested last year after going missing during a backpacking trip where he hoped to reach Qatar in time for the World Cup.

He was detained for photographing the tomb of 22year­old Mahsa Amini. The young woman was killed by Iran’s ‘Morality Police’ for not wearing a veil, which sparked protests and unrest in the country.