Belgium paves way to send convicted terrorist to Iran
There is growing international pressure not to back treaty that would allow Iranians convicted in Belgium to serve their sentences in Iran.
Politico, July 4, 2022
Belgium’s parliament on Tuesday will debate whether to ratify a proposed treaty with Iran that could allow an Iranian convicted of terrorism in Belgium to be sent back to Tehran.
Iran has loudly demanded that Belgium release Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat who was convicted on terrorism charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a bomb plot targeting a rally by opponents of the Iranian regime in France.
The Belgian government has refused to explain the immediate need for the treaty, although Belgian media reported Monday night that Iran has been holding a Belgian national in jail since February, potentially as leverage. Read More
BELGIUM MUST ENSURE NEW TREATY WITH IRAN DOES NOT ENTRENCH IMPUNITY
Amnesty International, July 5, 2022
Belgian lawmakers must urgently ensure that a bill enacting a bilateral treaty between Iran and Belgium is fully consistent with Belgium’s obligations under international human rights law. In particular, the bill should include adequate judicial safeguards to prevent the treaty being used to grant impunity for state officials and agents responsible for serious human rights violations and crimes under international law, Amnesty International said today.
On 29 June 2022, the Belgian federal government introduced a draft law aimed at ratifying five international instruments including the bilateral treaty, signed on 11 March 2022, between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the “Transfer of Sentenced Persons”. The bilateral treaty provides under Article 13 that “either Party may grant pardons, amnesties or reductions in sentences in accordance with its Constitution or other laws.” On 30 June 2022, parliament agreed to the government’s request to expedite the bill’s adoption. If adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which discussed the draft law on 5 July 2022 and is scheduled to continue the discussion on 6 July 2022, the draft law could be voted on in the Plenary meeting on 7 July 2022. Read More
Belgium treaty vote could set Iranian terrorist free
Opponents of the treaty argue it will exacerbate Iran’s hostage-taking practices
Fox News, July 6, 2022
Belgium’s parliament on Wednesday voted to pass through committee a treaty with Iran that would swap prisoners in a controversial exchange that some fear will set a dangerous precedent.
The agreement still needs to make its way through the full 150-member chamber later this month, but opponents of the treaty argue it could pave the way for the release of a convicted terrorist.
Iran has repeatedly called for the release of Assadollah Assadi, a former Iranian diplomat who was sentenced to 20 years in prison over his role in a thwarted 2018 bombing plot in France.
The conference that was targeted was held in Paris by The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI,) a leading Iranian opposition group. It’s leader Maryam Rajavi, who along with many American dignitaries spoke that day, condemned the proposed law. Read More
U.S. and Iranian delegations fail to reach a deal to restore the Iran nuclear deal
NPR, July 5, 2022
U.S. and Iranian officials recently left Doha, Qatar, after one more round of talks to try to restore the Iran nuclear deal. Both sides left disappointed. The two delegations have been trying for more than a year through indirect talks with European Union officials acting as intermediaries. The U.S. special envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, leads the delegation from Washington, and he spoke with our colleague Steve Inskeep about this latest round.
ROBERT MALLEY: The European Union, in its role as coordinator, wanted to try one more effort, at least one more effort, and so they invited both delegations to meet with them in Doha in the hope that the Iranians would show something, some willingness to get to yes. But they seem, at this point, not capable of providing an answer. And so it was a little bit of a – well, more than a little bit of a wasted occasion, I’d say. Read More
Treasury sanctions Iranian petrochemical firms tied to Asia
AP, July 6, 2022
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department said Wednesday that it has sanctioned a group of front companies and individuals tied to the sale and shipment of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products to East Asia.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed the sanctions on several companies, including Iran-based Jam Petrochemical Co., which has exported hundreds of millions of dollars worth of products to countries throughout Asia, including China.
The administration uses an August 2018 executive order signed by then-President Donald Trump as its authority to impose the sanctions.
The order addresses “threats posed by Iran, including Iran’s proliferation and development of missiles and other asymmetric and conventional weapons capabilities, its network and campaign of regional aggression,” and other issues. Read More
Over 600 Iranian-Americans Who Attended 2018 Paris Gathering Strongly Condemn the Planned Release of the Convicted Terrorist
OIAC, July 4, 2022
July 4, 2022—In a letter to the Belgian Prime Minister and the President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, over 600 Iranian-Americans who had attended the large gathering of the main Iranian opposition movement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran on June 30, 2018 in Paris, strongly condemned the planned release of the convicted terrorist diplomat, Asadollah Assadi, who plotted to bomb the gathering.
The signatories, many of whom attended the 2018 event with their family members, wrote that they “were all subjects of the horrifying terror plot by the Iranian regime, carried out by Asadollah Assadi, who operated under the cover of a diplomat.”
While “strongly condemning the shameful March 11, 2022 secret treaty between the Belgian Government and the Iranian regime,” the 600 signatories from most states across America urged the Belgian Parliament “to uphold the values of human rights and the rule of law, and refrain from adopting any bills which includes any language that would enable such shameful act of returning a convicted terrorist to join his terror masters.” Read More
Belgium debates contentious prisoner swap treaty with Iran
Reuters, July 5, 2022
BRUSSELS, July 5 (Reuters) – Belgian lawmakers on Tuesday debated a prisoner exchange treaty with Tehran that an exiled Iranian group opposes and says will release the mastermind behind a plan to bomb one of its rallies.
Justice Minister Vincent Van Quicken borne urged the foreign relations committee of Belgium’s lower house to back an accord that intelligence services believed could avert an increased threat against Belgian interests.
“People’s lives are at stake,” the minister said, adding one threat that had materialized was the detention of a Belgian man in Iran since February. Read More
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Belgium’s Parliament Must Reject the Iran Transfer Treaty
The pending treaty with Iran will make Belgium a “sanctuary country” for terrorist sleeper cell operations
National Interest, July 6, 2022 by Wes Martin
The “Treaty Between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons” will be a stunning mistake if Belgium’s Federal Parliament approves it this week.
Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the pending treaty affords Belgium and Iran “the widest measure of co-operation in respect of the transfer of sentenced persons in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty.” Paragraph 2 stipulates that a “person sentenced in the territory of a party may be transferred to the territory of the other Party, in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty, in order to serve the remaining period of the sentence imposed on him. To that end, he may express his interest to the Sentencing State or to the Administering State in being transferred under this Treaty.” Paragraph 3 concludes, with “Transfer may be requested by either the Sentencing State or the Administering State.” Read more
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