The president “ratified the law on the transfer of convicts between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Belgium enabling its execution,” Irna said. The treaty was previously approved on August 24 by the Iranian parliament and then on October 29 by the Expeditionary Council, a body that assesses whether the law is consistent with the constitution.
On 20 July, the Belgian parliamentarians had ratified by a large majority the Belgo-Iranian treaty that provides a legal framework for the exchange of convicts between the two countries. Belgium defends the decision, calling it the only way to obtain the release of Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, who was arrested in Tehran on February 24.
“The people’s representatives have approved the draft treaty on the mutual transfer of convicts between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Belgium,” announced Icana, the website of the Iranian parliament. Iranian parliamentarians approved the treaty with 195 votes in favour, two against and seven abstentions.
The treaty was denounced in Belgium as an open door to the extradition of Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi. The 50-year-old diplomat was sentenced in our country to 20 years in prison for planning a bomb attack near Paris.