Danish Appeals Court Confirms Conviction of Three Iranians on Terrorism Charges

The Danish appeals court on Tuesday, January 9, confirmed the conviction of three members of an Iranian separatist group who were found guilty of promoting terrorism in Iran and gathering information for a Saudi intelligence service. According to the Associated Press, these three individuals, whose identities have not been disclosed, were arrested about four years ago in the town of Ringsted, located 60 kilometers southwest of Copenhagen, Denmark's capital, and were convicted of promoting terror related to the attack on a military parade in Ahvaz on September 22, 2018. The Copenhagen appeals court stated that these individuals were members of the 'Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz' and were collecting information about individuals and organizations in Denmark and outside Iran, as well as military affairs in Iran, which they provided to the Saudi security service. The 'Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz,' which the Islamic Republic considers a separatist terrorist group, refers to parts of southern Iran as 'Al-Ahwaz' and is generally known in Iran as 'Al-Ahwaz' or 'Al-Ahwazieh.' Henrik Agard, the Danish prosecutor, stated, 'This case reflects the operations of foreign powers on Danish soil.' The Danish Supreme Court is expected to announce the sentences for these three Iranians in the coming months. Under Danish law, these three defendants face potential sentences of up to 12 years in prison. They may also face deportation from Denmark, and one of them may have their Danish citizenship revoked. The Danish Supreme Court also confirmed the initial conviction of these three for attempting to 'finance terrorist activities.' According to the report, the defendants were involved in 'attempting to finance terrorist activities' with possession of $2.2 million and efforts to secure additional funding of the same amount. The Danish appeals court also announced that a significant portion of the trial was held behind closed doors due to considerations related to the country's relations with foreign powers and security issues concerning individuals. The arrest of this trio is linked to a Danish police operation in 2018 aimed at countering a plot to assassinate opponents of the Iranian government. The assassination of Ahmad Nissi, one of the founders of the 'Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz,' in the fall of 2017 in the Netherlands led to sanctions against parts of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence in Europe and the expulsion of several Iranian diplomats. Following the killing of at least 25 people, including several civilians, during the attack on the armed forces parade in Ahvaz, the Iranian government accused the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz of being involved in the attack. However, this group condemned the use of violence and denied the accusation.