{
  "id": 4334713,
  "title": "Handcuffed at gunpoint: Sailor tells of ordeal in Iran’s Bandar Abbas jail",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/handcuffed-at-gunpoint-sailor-tells-of-ordeal-in-irans-bandar-abbas-4334713",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/08/30/handcuffed-at-gunpoint-sailor-tells-of-ordeal-in-irans-bandar-abbas-jail/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A sailor, 27-year-old Paul Justin, recounted his nine-month ordeal in Iran's Bandar Abbas prison, where he was handcuffed and subjected to brutal treatment after being detained for fuel smuggling allegations. The sailor, an oiler on the vessel Harbour Phoenix, shared how the prisoners were kept in a cargo room for 10 days before being taken off the ship. The treatment he endured was described as inhumane, likening it to being treated like an animal. The sailor expressed his fear of death during the nine-month imprisonment, as nearby explosions from missiles were a constant threat. The sailors faced a series of hearings, leading to a five-year sentence and a fine of $7.5 million per person for the 10 Indians, three Pakistanis, two Indonesians, and one Tanzanian. Despite the charges being denied, the sailors remained in prison. Justin, now back home, is advocating for the release of other seafarers still detained in Iranian jails, emphasizing that they should not have faced such hardship and unfair treatment.",
  "summary": "A sailor detained for more than nine months by Iranian forces has told of how he feared he would \"die in jail\" after being subjected to brutal treatment as missiles exploded nearby. Paul Justin, 27, was among 16 crew who were held in the notorious Bandar Abbas prison after authorities intercepted their vessel over fuel smuggling allegations. They were finally released in May, prompting relief…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Iran rift widens as supreme leader tells ministers to stop publicising country's problems",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/iran-rift-widens-as-supreme-leader-tells-ministers-to-stop",
        "published": "2026-08-28T17:39:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Iran's Supreme Leader bans acts that 'harm social cohesion'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/irans-supreme-leader-bans-acts-that-harm-social-cohesion",
        "published": "2026-08-28T18:48:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}