Final Verdict Issued for Three Iranians Convicted of ‘Conspiracy to Bomb Paris Rally’ in Belgium

The appellate court in Antwerp, Belgium issued final verdicts on Tuesday, May 10, in the case of three Iranian citizens who were detained en route to Paris with explosive materials, on charges of “attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.”

According to Belgian newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen, based on the court’s final verdict, Nasimeh Naami was sentenced to 18 years, Amir Saadouni (with a three-year increase) to 18 years, and Mehrdad Arefani to 17 years in prison.

In addition, the Belgian citizenship of these three individuals has been revoked permanently, and each was ordered to pay a fine of 60,000 euros. Based on this verdict, Nasimeh Naami’s Mercedes-Benz vehicle was also seized.

The case of these three individuals relates to their alleged cooperation with Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat working in Austria, to plot a bomb attack at a rally of the “National Council of Resistance of Iran” on June 30, 2018.

Assadollah Assadi, an approximately 50-year-old Iranian diplomat employed at the Iranian embassy in Austria, is accused of providing half a kilogram of explosive material to an Iranian couple residing in Belgium to target this gathering with an attack.

The French government accused Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence in October of the past year of designing and executing this plot, and Assadollah Assadi was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison following trial.

Mr. Assadi did not appeal his verdict and is currently serving his sentence.

Despite the Islamic Republic’s denial of these charges, the matter has created tensions in Iran-Europe relations.

Source: Radio Farda