Via a press release sent by the family’s spokesperson, Olivier Van Steirtegem, the relatives of the Belgian indicate that they learned this news during the meeting which took place on Tuesday between them and several members of the federal government, including the Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne. The latter’s office indicates that the minister will answer a question on this subject in the followingnoon in the Chamber, in the Justice Committee.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s office said it had assured the family that the government “continues to explore all possible avenues leading to Olivier Vandecasteele’s return to Belgium”.
The family of Olivier Vandecasteele, hostage in Iran, was received by the government
Belgium was counting on the very fresh “Treaty for the transfer of sentenced persons” recently concluded with Tehran, a text that seems tailor-made to, in the other direction, allow the handover to Iran of the diplomat Assadollah Assadi, sentenced in 2021 to a 20-year prison sentence. But the Constitutional Court last week suspended the law giving assent to this treaty, pending a decision on the merits (possible cancellation).
According to the family, the charges once morest Olivier Vandecasteele by Iranian justice are “still unknown”. The government has, she said, confirmed that the currently inoperative Transfer Treaty is the only option to secure her release.
“Olivier Vandecasteele’s situation seems insignificant despite the risks to his life and his arbitrary detention”, still deplore the relatives of the detainee, who recall that he is still on hunger strike.