Carl Deconinck, April 26
The Belgian minister of justice has denied press reports of a possible prisoner swap with Iran. The minister said it was “fake news” from “a rogue state specialised in manipulation”.
Belgian minister Vincent van Quickenborne formally denied the news on April 26. “The message is incorrect”, he said. According to the minister, the Iranian regime hopes to “sow confusion at the expense of an innocent compatriot and his family.” He reaffirmed the Belgian government is doing the utmost to retrieve the Belgian NGO worker, Olivier Vandecasteele.
Earlier today, Masoud Setayeshi, spokesman of Iran’s judiciary said “Belgium has requested an exchange and so have we for our diplomat Asadollah Assadi. Following the necessary protocols, such an exchange will be done soon”.
Iran wants to trade Assadollah Assadi, a diplomat and convicted terrorist imprisoned in Belgium for plotting to bomb the Iranian opposition in Paris.
Iran arrested Olivier Vandecasteele, a Belgian NGO worker, last year. He was recently sentenced to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes following a show trial. The conditions of his imprisonment are said to be dire. He was reportedly denied access to lawyers.
The Belgian government has signed a treaty with Iran in order to make prisoner swaps possible, a highly contentious treaty that was tested in the courts. Critics fear such swaps might encourage Iran to take people hostage in order to trade them.
