The sister of an Irishman in an Iranian prison has said her brother is 'very weak and in pain' after going on hunger strike.
Bernard Phelan (64) works in tourism and was representing an Iranian tour operator around Europe at various shows.
His sister, Caroline, told Lunchtime Live he was on an educational trip last October with the CEO of the tour company visiting new sites.
"He was in Mashad, which is Iran's second city up near the Afghan border, where the CEO was taking photographs with a camera with a long objective," she said.
"Both of them were stopped by guards and brought into jail and separated.
"The Iranian was let go a few days later, but Bernard was held and has been held since the 3rd of October.
"That's over 100 days".
'No charges'
Caroline said her brother has yet to be charged with any crime.
"There's [been] no charges brought against him, he hasn't been judged yet," she said.
"The judiciary in the prison has blamed him for various acts; like taking photographs, sending photographs to the press, taking two pieces of pottery in a little village where they say were 900-years-old.
"He denies all charges, but he hasn't gone to court.
"We hired a human rights lawyer but he hasn't had access to that lawyer at all."
Bernard Phelan. Picture by: SuppliedBernard has a heart problem and a bone condition and is in pain, his sister said.
The dual Irish-French citizen received a visit on Tuesday from the French Ambassador to Iran.
Caroline explained: "It was very much to find out what happened and to try and improve his conditions.
"That meeting was very much Bernard and the prison - but both the Irish consulate and French consulate have also met their counterparts in the Iranian ministry to bring up Bernard's case.
"The Irish consulate here has met the Iranian Ambassador to Ireland to highlight Bernard's serious case."
Hunger strike
Caroline said her brother has been on hunger strike since January 1st.
"He's drinking lots of sweet drinks, he said he's drinking tea and sweet drinks with honey and saffron," she said.
"He's drinking those, but he's not eating and he's handed in his medication as well.
"He's told us that he's very weak and in pain; in pain from his bones and very weak".
Bernard Phelan. Picture by: SuppliedShe said the conditions in the prison are "nasty".
"There's about 20,000 people in that prison - Bernard's in a cell with about between 12 and 16 people at a time, with every kind of prisoner.
"He gets out for about 45 minutes a day into a courtyard - there's no chairs, no tables, it's really very tough.
"There's no glass on the windows, it was snowing this week so they have to put cardboard on the windows.
"He hasn't had access to books or phone calls," she added.
Department of Foreign Affairs advice says Irish citizens should 'avoid non-essential travel' to Iran.
