German Expert: Dual-Nationality Prisoners in Iran Have Been Used as Pawns
A non-governmental organization in Germany has called on the country’s government to take an explicit stance against the “kidnappings” by the Islamic Republic. Nahid Taghavi and three other Iranian-German citizens are imprisoned in Iran for political reasons.
The non-governmental organization “Middle East Freedom Assembly” in Berlin has called on the German government to explicitly take a stance on Iranian-German prisoners in Iran.
Ms. Ulrike Becker, a Middle East expert and head of the organization, told the Protestant Church news agency in Berlin regarding the continued illegal imprisonment of Nahid Taghavi, an Iranian-German human rights activist in Iran: “The German government must explicitly condemn this arbitrary kidnapping.”
Ms. Becker has described the German government’s stance on this matter as “weak.”
The non-governmental organization “Middle East Freedom Assembly” in Berlin works for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the Middle East. The organization was founded in 2007 by several academic researchers, journalists, members of Jewish organizations, and Iranians in exile.
An oral question by Omid Nouripour, an Iranian-origin member of the German parliament, to the government regarding Iranian-German prisoners in Iran, revealed that in addition to Nahid Taghavi, three other Iranian-German citizens are currently imprisoned in Iran for political reasons.
Nahid Taghavi has been held in Evin Prison since October 16 without access to consular facilities of the German embassy in Iran and without receiving legal assistance. According to Ms. Taghavi’s family, Iranian authorities have labeled her a “security threat.”
Ulrike Becker considers this accusation “ridiculous.” She points out that many Iranian-German citizens constantly travel between the two countries and says: “This coercion that is applied there reveals the criminal nature of the [Islamic Republic] regime. They have no hesitation in kidnapping for the sake of their political goals and putting pressure on Germany.”
Ms. Becker compares political prisoners in Iran to “pawns in a game.” According to this Middle East expert, the Islamic Republic intends to use German prisoners to force Germany into compromise and reconciliation, and hopes for the cooperation of the German government in this regard.
She has referred to a trial currently taking place in Belgium against Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat, and considers this trial to play a key role in this matter.
Belgian authorities have accused Assadi, who was Iran’s official diplomat in Austria, of participating in the planning and execution of a bombing at a Mujahedin-e Khalq gathering in Paris in 2018. Twenty thousand people participated in this gathering. Iran has denied any role in planning this bombing.
Source: DW
