“Serious consequences” threat to Iran despite death sentence denial
The Iranian ambassador in The Hague has assured Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen that no death sentence has been imposed on Dutch human rights activist Abdullah al-Mansouri. If this does happen, Verhagen has threatened “serious consequences”.
Verhagen was called to the Lower House yesterday by Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders. In fact , all parties were demanding clarification of reports that al-Mansouri was condemned to death for terrorism, as his son said Monday he understood from Syrian human rights organisation Nohr.
Verhagen said yesterday that he had summoned the Iranian ambassador in the morning. The diplomat said in the meeting that no verdict has yet been issued. Verhagen added that his ministry also heard this on 17 October, when the Netherlands for the first time received signals that a death sentence could be imposed.
Verhagen is sending his highest civil servant to Teheran next week to demand access to the human rights activist, who has a Dutch passport. The Netherlands will also demand that the Dutch embassy have access to future sessions in his trial.
In December 2006, Iran promised that the Dutch embassy could attend the trial of Al Mansouri, but this did not happen at any of the three court sessions. Iran does not deny that Al Mansouri is a Dutchman, explained Verhagen.
If Iran again fails to abide by the promises made now, “serious consequences” will follow, the minister stressed. He would not rule out “any means whatever.” He does however consider it undesirable for now to recall the Dutch ambassador to Iran from his post, because the Netherlands would then be less able to closely monitor developments.
Al Mansouri, who was given asylum in the Netherlands in 1989, was decorated by Queen Beatrix in 2001 for his human rights activities. Verhagen rejected a Socialist Party (SP) suggestion yesterday for having the queen make a personal appeal to the Iranian head of state for the release of the Dutchman, saying he was unwilling at least for now to involve the queen in a case about which the degree of escalation is currently uncertain.
Al Mansouri’s son said yesterday that Iranian authorities are threatening him. Verhagen said this would be unacceptable if correct. He will have the security services investigate the allegation. “It cannot be that Iran or another country threatens people in the Netherlands,” said the minister. Everybody in the Netherlands must be able to say what they want and stand up for their father, he added.
Verhagen will bring up the question in the EU. The House also suggested that UN Secretary-General Ban ki Moon could play a role, as could the UNHCR.
Al-Mansouri was arrested on 11 May 2006 during a trip to Syria. He was apparently there at the invitation of that country on account of his activities for the Ahwaz Liberation Organisation (ALO), which promotes the interests of the Arabic minority in the Al-Ahwaz region, part of Iran, with the aim of achieving independence. Syria arrested him and extradited him to Iran. Al-Mansouri is a local councillor for the leftwing Green (GroenLinks) party in Maastricht.
Source: NIS News, 31 October 2007
