From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Iran summons Belgian envoy after its diplomat is jailed in terror plot
Iran summons Belgium’s ambassador in Tehran in protest after a court in Antwerp jailed one of its diplomats for plotting a thwarted 2018 bombing in neighboring France.
Assadollah Assadi, 49, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars on Thursday after being convicted of attempted murder of a “terrorist” nature and “participation in the activities of a terrorist group.”
He denies the charges.
The Iranian foreign ministry says it summoned the Belgian ambassador in Tehran “to convey the strong protest of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the illegal decision of the court in Antwerp concerning our diplomat Assadollah Assadi.
“The Belgian government has also been called upon to take measures for the immediate release of Assadi” and “to respect human rights standards.”
The Times of Israel Community.