28 May 2023 :
(May 26, 2023) - Belgian Government Releases Iranian Diplomat-Terrorist Assadollah Assadi in Controversial Prisoner Swap
Assadi was released from prison and returned to Iran on May 26
Brussels, Belgium – In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from both national and international observers, the Belgian government today released Iranian diplomat-terrorist Assadollah Assadi in a prisoner swap. Assadi, who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a foiled bomb plot targeting an Iranian opposition rally in France, has been at the center of a contentious and high-profile case.
Many experts have voiced concerns that this decision demonstrates a weakness of the European Union and the Belgian government, which they argue has effectively bowed to the Iranian regime’s blackmailing and bargaining tactics. Critics argue that the move may encourage further acts of terrorism and weaken the international community’s ability to deter and punish such actions.
In a statement, the Iranian Resistance strongly condemned the release of Assadi. The statement reads: “The release of this terrorist diplomat, while the Constitutional Court had clearly stated in its judgment that the Belgian government should inform the victims before transferring the convicts so that they have the opportunity to once again take the issue to court. The release of the terrorist, who organized and commanded the biggest criminal act in Europe after the Second World War by violating the Court’s order, is a shameful ransom for terrorism and hostage-taking. This will embolden the religious fascism ruling Iran to continue its crimes in Iran through repression and regional and international terrorism. From May 1 to May 25, 127 people were executed in Iran.”
Assadi, who served as the third secretary of the Iranian embassy in Vienna, was arrested in Germany in July 2018 and later extradited to Belgium, where he was tried and convicted for his involvement in the bomb plot. The court found that he had provided a Belgian-Iranian couple with explosives and a detonator, with explicit instructions to target June 30, 2018, National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) rally near Paris. The plot was foiled by European authorities, preventing a potentially devastating terrorist attack.
The decision to release Assadi has raised questions about the commitment of the EU and the Belgian government to combat terrorism and hold those responsible accountable. Critics argue that the prisoner swap sends a message of weakness and may embolden other state-sponsored terrorists to carry out similar attacks, believing that they can ultimately avoid serious consequences.
In response to the criticism, Belgian officials have defended their decision, arguing that the prisoner swap was a necessary step to secure the release of Belgian and European citizens detained in Iran on trumped-up charges. The government maintains that the exchange was carried out in the interests of national security and the well-being of the detained citizens.
