Assadollah Asadi on trial for bombing in Belgium

Asadollah Asadi, the Iranian diplomat accused of attempting to bomb a gathering of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) in the Paris suburbs, will go on trial in Belgium on Friday, December 29. Three other Iranian suspects in the case will also stand trial with him.

Asadollah Asadi, a diplomat at the Islamic Republic's embassy in Vienna, who is accused of attempting to bomb a gathering of the National Council of Resistance, which includes the People's Mojahedin Organization, in the suburbs of Paris on June 30, 2018, will go on trial in Antwerp, Belgium, on Friday, November 27.

Amir Saadouni and Nasimeh Maani, an Iranian couple living in Belgium who are accused of transporting explosives to help Assad, will also be tried with him, as will another Iranian suspect in the case, Mehrdad Arefani, 57.

Arifani, who also lives in Belgium, was arrested by French police on suspicion of collaborating with Assad and extradited to Belgium.

In June 2018, Belgium announced the thwarting of an attempt to smuggle explosives into France to attack a political rally of Iranian opponents.

Later that year, the French government accused Iranian intelligence of orchestrating the attack, an accusation Iran has vehemently denied.

Asadollah Asadi, a 48-year-old Iranian diplomat, faces a possible life sentence if convicted of this charge.

The trial will take place over two days, Friday this week and Thursday next week. The court is expected to issue its verdict early next year.

Source: DW