More than twenty nationals from Western countries, mostly binational, are detained or blocked in Iran, which non -governmental organizations (NGO) condemn as a hostage -taking policy to obtain concessions from the powers of the powers foreign.
mo12345lemonde with AFP
After the condemnation of the humanitarian aid Olivier Vandecasteele, Belgium asked, Sunday, December 18, to its nationals “passing through Iran” to leave the country. “Any Belgian visitor, including binational, is exposed to a high risk of arbitration, arbitrary detention and inequitable judgment. This risk also concerns people making a simple tourist stay in Iran,” warned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release .
Two hundred Belgian nationals were recorded by Belgian consular services in Iran this summer. “In the event of arrest or detention, compliance with fundamental rights and the security of persons are not guaranteed. In this context, the ability of the Belgian Embassy in Tehran to ensure the consular protection of nationals arrested or detained in Iran is very limited, “said the ministry.
“Belgian nationals who, despite this warning, are currently in Iran, are invited to show the greatest vigilance and to take the essential precautions to ensure their safety. Recently, a Belgian national and Several other Westerners have been arrested arbitrarily and are now imprisoned in Iran, “said the ministry.
foreign nationals retained
Olivier Vandecasteele, detained in Iran since his arrest on February 24, was sentenced to 28 years in prison. According to his family, he was arrested for no reason and no indication was provided by the Iranian authorities on the charges held against him.
An showdown opposes Belgium and Iran since the arrest of an Iranian diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, sentenced in Belgium in 2021 to 20 years in prison for a “terrorist” attack project against the opposition Iranian. The Belgian Constitutional Court suspended Thursday a treaty of transfer of condemned between Belgium and Iran adopted in July by the Parliament to allow the return of humanitarian work following numerous appeals of Iranian opponents in exile. >
The sister of Oliver Vandecasteele denounced the “unnameable psychological torture” suffered by his brother, “innocent hostage of a juridico-political battle” putting in the grip of Iran and Belgium.
About fifty people gathered on Sunday in Lyon, including the mayor of the city, to ask for the release of Belgian humanitarian aid Olivier Vandecasteele, detained in isolation since February in Iran without known reason.
More than twenty nationals from Western countries, mostly binational, are detained or blocked in Iran, which non -governmental organizations (NGO) condemn as a hostage -taking policy to obtain concessions from the powers of the powers foreign.