Islamic Republic Claims: 'Asadi and Noori Have Dedicated Their Lives to Freedom, Peace, and Security for Humanity'

The spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's judiciary expressed satisfaction over the release of 'Asadollah Asadi' from a prison in Belgium and his return to Iran, stating: 'Mr. Asadi and Noori are not only innocent but have dedicated their entire lives to freedom, peace, and establishing security for humanity.' Masoud Setayesh claimed: 'The judiciary once again condemned the violation of human rights concerning individuals like Mr. Noori by the Swedish government and expects international bodies to conduct a fair and just investigation into this human rights catastrophe.' The spokesperson described the Islamic Republic's approach to foreign defendants and criminals as 'kind, patient, and humble,' based on human rights principles. Asadollah Asadi, an Islamic Republic diplomat, had been sentenced to twenty years in prison in Belgium for alleged involvement in a bombing operation against a People's Mujahedin Organization gathering in Paris. He was exchanged on Friday, June 5, with a Belgian tourist imprisoned in Iran. Hamid Noori, also a judicial official of the Islamic Republic, was sentenced to life imprisonment in Sweden for his role in the mass execution of political prisoners in Iran during the summer of 1988. Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, stated in an interview with Voice of America on Wednesday, June 7, that she spoke with the Austrian Foreign Minister about human rights, saying, 'I told Alexander Schallenberg that paying ransom to a hostage-taking government is not in their country's interest, and this is contrary to human rights law and an abuse of the rule of law.' Western countries, including the United States, have labeled the imprisonment of their citizens by the Islamic Republic as 'political hostage-taking' and have repeatedly called on the Islamic Republic to end this 'oppressive' practice. However, the Islamic Republic continues to detain and imprison Western and dual-national citizens on charges such as 'espionage' and 'actions against national security' without providing any evidence or documentation.