Arrest of Three Members of 'Al-Ahwaz' Group in Denmark for 'Praising' Attack in Iran

On Wednesday, November 7, the Danish police announced that they had arrested three members of a group known as 'Al-Ahwaz Movement' for 'praising' the deadly attack that occurred in Ahvaz in September. According to the Associated Press, Bjoerk Kierkegaard, a spokesperson for the Danish police, stated that praising or expressing support for such actions is considered a crime under Danish law, and the three arrested individuals, all members of the 'Al-Ahwaz' group, may face fines or up to two years in prison. The names of the arrested individuals have not been disclosed. During the attack on the military parade on September 22 in Ahvaz, at least 24 people were killed and over 60 were injured. While ISIS officially claimed responsibility for the attack, Iranian officials pointed the finger at the 'Al-Ahwaz Movement'. Meanwhile, 'Yaqoub Hur al-Tustari', who introduced himself as a spokesperson for the 'Arab Liberation Movement of Ahwaz', attributed the armed attack to a group known as 'National Resistance of Ahwaz' in an interview with Radio Farda. In this context, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on October 1 that it had targeted the 'headquarters of the leaders' of the Ahvaz attack in eastern Euphrates in Syria with six medium-range ballistic missiles, claiming that the 'main planner' of the attack on the Iranian armed forces' parade had been killed. Five Scandinavian countries have expressed serious concern over a plot by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence to assassinate activists of the 'Al-Ahwaz Movement' in Denmark. The Danish police spokesperson emphasized that due to concerns about attacks on activists associated with the 'Al-Ahwaz Movement', they will continue to be under police protection. Earlier, on November 1, Denmark accused the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence of attempting to assassinate activists of the 'Al-Ahwaz' group on Danish soil. Denmark summoned the Iranian ambassador in Copenhagen and protested against the 'Iranian security service's plan to carry out an attack in this country', recalling its ambassador from Tehran. The Danish Security Service reported on November 1 that a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent had been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and attempting to attack members of an opposition group to the Islamic Republic. The Danish police stated that this individual had been seen taking photos of members of the 'Al-Ahwaz Movement' in Ringsted, located 60 kilometers southwest of Copenhagen. Iran has dismissed the Danish officials' accusations as 'malicious' and has 'strongly' denied them. This accusation comes amid the assassination of Ahmad Mola Abunahd, known as Ahmad Nissi, who is referred to as the founder of the 'Arab Liberation Movement of Ahwaz', on November 8, 2017, in front of his residence in The Hague. The Danish officials' accusations against the Islamic Republic arose four months after the arrest of an Iranian diplomat on charges of involvement in a plot to attack a meeting of the People's Mujahedin Organization in Paris. In this context, Israeli media reports have discussed the role of Mossad in exposing Iran's assassination plot in Denmark. The Iranian Minister of Intelligence referred to the assassination accusations in Denmark as a 'Zionist conspiracy'. Amnesty International reported that in recent weeks, hundreds have been arrested in Khuzestan province. The Danish ambassador was summoned, and President Rouhani ordered an investigation into the assassination plot in Copenhagen. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that the 'main planner' of the Ahvaz attack has been killed. There is severe governmental repression and the risk of protests becoming 'underground'. Reports from doctors and eyewitnesses about the injured during protests are emerging.