Trial of Asadollah Asadi on Bombing Charges in Belgium

Asadollah Asadi, an Iranian diplomat accused of attempting to carry out a bombing at a gathering of the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran in the Paris suburbs, will be tried in Belgium on Friday, December 7th. Three other Iranian suspects in this case will also be brought before the court.

Asadollah Asadi, a diplomat at the Islamic Republic of Iran’s embassy in Vienna who is accused of attempting to carry out a bombing at a gathering of the National Council of Resistance, which includes the People’s Mujahedin Organization, in the Paris suburbs on June 30, 2018, will be tried on Friday, December 7th (November 27th) in the city of Antwerp, Belgium.

Amir Saadouni and Nasimeh Moani, an Iranian couple residing in Belgium who are accused of carrying explosives to assist Asadi, as well as another Iranian suspect in the case named Mehrdad Arefani, 57 years old, will also be tried alongside him.

Arefani, who also resides in Belgium, was arrested by French police on suspicion of cooperating with Asadi and was extradited to Belgium.

In June 2018, Belgium announced that it had thwarted an attempt to smuggle explosives into France for the purpose of attacking a political gathering of opponents of the Iranian government.

Shortly thereafter that same year, the French government accused Iran’s intelligence agency of organizing this attack. Iran has strongly rejected this accusation.

Asadollah Asadi, a 48-year-old Iranian diplomat, faces the possibility of a life sentence if the charges are proven.

The trial will take place over two days, this Friday and next Thursday. It is expected that the court will issue its verdict in early next year.

Source: DW