Elysette gets banner for Olivier Vandecasteele

A banner in support of Olivier Vandecasteele will soon be rolled out at the Walloon government's headquarters in Namur. This was announced by Wallonian prime minister Elio Di Rupo in the Walloon Parliament.

Olivier Vandecasteele is a Belgian humanitarian worker who has worked for more than six years in Iran for international NGOs. He has been in an Iranian prison for almost a year. On 24 February, he was arrested by the Iranian authorities on charges of espionage. Earlier this week, Iranian authorities confirmed a 40-year prison sentence and 74 lashes.

Di Rupo has "every confidence in the prime minister and the foreign minister" to get Vandecasteele released. The banner comes in consultation with human rights organisation Amnesty International. "Everywhere we can, we must make our voice heard and demand the release of our compatriot," he said.

In Tournai, Vandecasteele's hometown, an Amnesty International banner has been hanging on the Belfry for a while.

^{Installation of a large banner with a portrait of Belgian NGO-worker Olivier Vandecasteele, in Tournai (Doornik). © ​ BELGA PHOTO JUSTIN NAMUR}