Trial of three Iranians accused of financing terrorism begins in Denmark

The first court hearing of the case of three Iranian Arab citizens accused of supporting terrorism began in the Danish capital Copenhagen. They were leaders of the “Arab Struggle for the Liberation of Ahvaz” movement and were accused of spying for Saudi Arabia.

The trial of the case of three Iranian-Arab citizens in Denmark was held on Thursday, April 29 (May 29) in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.

AFP reported on the trial of the three Iranian citizens, who are leaders of the Arab Struggle for the Liberation of Ahvaz (Arab Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz), and their lawyers have requested their acquittal.

There are two main charges in the case of these three people: first, supporting and financing terrorist activities, and second, espionage and collaboration with the Saudi Arabian intelligence agency.

If convicted, the three men face up to 12 years in prison. The three men, aged between 39 and 50, have been in prison since February 2020.

The headquarters of the “Arab Struggle for the Liberation of Ahvaz” are located in Denmark and the Netherlands. The Islamic Republic considers this group a terrorist organization.

Defense attorney's defense

One of the three defendants in the terrorism financing case is a Danish citizen. His trial has begun along with two others. It is not yet clear when the court will issue a verdict.

Prosecutors issued an indictment against the individuals on terrorism financing charges about two weeks ago. Gareth Dearn, a lawyer for one of the defendants in the case, told AFP:

"In his client's opinion, what they are accused of doing was legitimate resistance to an oppressive regime." The defendant's lawyer in the case has asked for his client's acquittal, moving away from this issue.

Receiving money from Saudi Arabia

One of the charges against these individuals was that they received money from Saudi Arabia. Gareth Dearn, a lawyer for one of the defendants in the case, told the reporter of the aforementioned news agency that these individuals did not hide the fact that they received the money.

"They do not deny receiving money from multiple financial sources, including Saudi Arabia. They have used this money to help the aforementioned movement as well as their own political activities," said Dairne.

Gareth Dearn also added that his client, the oldest person in the case, sought asylum in Denmark in 2006.

According to the indictment issued against these individuals, they have so far received 30 million Danish kroner, which is equivalent to four million euros.

It is said that the financial donations received by the leaders of the "Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz" were made available to them through bank accounts in Austria and the United Arab Emirates.

In addition, these three individuals are accused of cooperating with the Saudi intelligence agency and spying on the political activities of Iranian individuals and organizations in Denmark between 2012 and 2020.

Supporting and abetting the activities of the "Army of Justice" is also one of the other accusations raised against these three individuals.

Failed attack on Danish soil

One of these three individuals was the target of a failed attack on Danish soil in 2018. It is believed that the Islamic Republic of Iran was responsible for that attack.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is said to have carried out the attack in response to the attack on its military parade in September 2018. 24 people were killed during the attack on the armed forces parade in Ahvaz.

The Islamic Republic of Iran officially denies any involvement in the failed attack on this member of the “Arab Struggle for the Liberation of Ahvaz.” This comes despite a court in Denmark sentencing an Iranian-Norwegian citizen to seven years in prison in the same connection.

Gareth Dierne, a lawyer for one of the defendants in the case, said about the aforementioned court: "This is the first time in Denmark that the question of the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter has been raised within the framework of anti-terrorism law."

Source: DW