2023-04-27 13:41:00
The Head of the Belgian Government and Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi discussed the case of Olivier Vandecasteele, a Belgian humanitarian worker detained in Iran since February 24, 2022 in inhuman and degrading conditions.
According to the Iranian news agency Irna, they also agreed to speed up the implementation of the agreements concluded between their two countries on the judicial level.
This version is challenged by Alexander De Croo (Open Vld). “When I read the report from the Iranian agency regarding the conversation of April 21, I had the impression that it was not the same conversation,” the prime minister explained to the Bedroom.
Belgium and Iran have reached a prisoner transfer agreement that came into effect earlier this week. It would allow Mr. Vandecasteele to return to Belgium and send Assadolah Aassadi, an Iranian diplomat sentenced in Belgium to 20 years in prison for a planned terrorist attack in France, back to Iran.
As soon as the treaty entered into force, Belgium requested the transfer of Olivier Vandecasteele. Iran did the same with Mr. Assadi, confirmed Alexander De Croo. “We are reviewing this request,” he said.
Thursday morning, the Iranian press also claimed that the conditions of detention of Olivier Vandecasteele had improved. “It is not so,” denied Alexander De Croo, recalling in passing that the last consular visit, the eighth, took place on March 13.
“We must be on the same wavelength,” concluded the Prime Minister, calling on the majority and the opposition to close ranks. “Iran is trying to divide us. It must not be allowed.”
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