A man in his 90s is to hand over a petition to the Iranian embassy this week calling for the release of his seriously ill son.
Tipperary-born travel consultant Bernard Phelan, 64, has been held in a prison in the city of Mashad since last October.
Caroline Masse-Phelan, a sister of Mr Phelan, said her family intend to hold a vigil outside the embassy on Thursday amid growing concern about the fragile condition her brother.
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In a touching YouTube video recorded by the Phelan family, 97-year-old Vincent said he thinks of Bernard from the minute he opens his eyes every morning.
He adds: “I have lost one son and I have only one left, Bernard. For the next few years – I don’t know how long I am going to live, who does? But I rely on Bernard to help me.
“[Bernard] was hoping to get home soon. I hope the Government are putting pressure on the Iranians.
“I can’t understand why they put Bernard in to prison. Bernard didn’t do anything wrong. I miss him a lot and I’ll miss him more every day. I am relying on him to look after me.”
His family say Bernard has only had the opportunity to have one eightminute phone call with his father since he went in to prison.
He has also had two phone conversations with Caroline in recent weeks. Mr Phelan was working as a consultant for an Iranian tour operator when he was arrested on an educational visit to the country.
He was stopped for taking a photograph of a mosque in Mashad.
He denies a charge of helping to incite propaganda against the Tehran government. However, his family say he has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years.
Mr Phelan was with the CEO of a Iranian tour operator had travelled back and forth once a year to Iran since 2017 and was promoting the country as a tourist destination.
His arrest coincided with a period of protests against the Iranian Islamic regime which had brought millions of people out on the streets in the country. Ms Masse-Phelan told RTE Radio:“When he travelled he had no ideas that these protests would escalate and that his life would be in danger.
“He was hauled off to the street and in to a van and taken away.
“He is not alone at being one of these hostages being kept in Iran as some sort of pawns in a political game going on in the country. He was in the wrong place on the wrong time.”
Ms Masse-Phelan is concerned about the deteriorating health of her brother, who is a dual French-Irish citizen.
She added: “He is extremely fragile. His physical health is declining rapidly. He has several health issues, cardiac and bone issues.But also he is going blind because he had an operation last summer which was fine and went well but it hasn’t been treated so he can’t see very far anymore. He is very concerned that that won’t be repairable when he comes home.”
Ms Masse-Phelan said Bernard also has concerns about his safety in the notorious Vakilabad prison.
She added: “He knows we are talking to the media but he doesn’t see any fruit to that. He regularly tells us that he doesn’t know how long he can hold on.
“He was on hunger strike in January. He went on a thirst strike which put the fear of God in to us. We convinced him to eat again. He needs to be let out on humanitarian grounds.
“Bernard’s family and friends will be meeting outside the embassy on March 30. We will be calling on the Iranian authorities to focus on Bernard and to understand that this person shouldn’t be in Iran and should be released.
“Bernard loved the country and was only doing his best for that country. He was trying to help business there.
“He loved the Iranian people. Why would they keep someone like that? “She said her father plans to attend the vigil for a short time.
Ms Masse-Phelan continued: “He will join us. He wants to do something to help his son.
“So this is a way with his family and friends to do something and to take action.
“We have created a petition where we hope we will arrive by 5,000 signatures by next week and then Daddy can present it to the Iranian embassy on the 30th.”
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