Somali pirates freed an Iranian man named Mohammed Shariff Panahandeh to allow him to receive urgent medical attention, according to Hostage Support Partnership, an organization that facilitated his release.
Panahandeh was taken hostage along with three other men in March 2015 following an attack on the Iranian fishing vessel FV Siraj.
Hostage Support Partnership said Panahandeh was flown to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Garowe and will be treated in Ethiopia before being flown home to Iran.
John Steed, an official of the organisation, told AFP that Panahandeh’s health had seriously worsened in the last few weeks with the Iranian severely malnourished and having lost a lot of weight.
Steed confirmed that there was no ransom paid to secure Panahandeh’s release but suspected that the pirates may attempt to hold out for large sums before releasing the remaining men.
Hostage Support Partnership hailed the involvement of Somali community leaders in the talks noting that they would likely be needed to secure release the other three hostages.
The danger posed by Somali pirates has reduced in the last few years, mainly due to shipping firms hiring private security and international warships patrolling the waters in the area.
