Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Saturday, Aug 23, 2025

Belgian parliament approves prisoner swap treaty with Iran

Belgian parliament approves prisoner swap treaty with Iran

Critics fear the deal will pave the way for the release of a convicted terrorist to Iran.
Belgian MPs ratified a controversial treaty with Iran that could allow an Iranian convicted of terrorism in Belgium to be sent back to Tehran.

Out of the 131 MPs present, 79 voted in favor while 41 rejected the treaty, and 11 abstained from the vote just after midnight, following a late debate Wednesday.

Critics fear that the treaty, which would permit Iranians convicted in Belgium to serve their sentences in Iran and vice versa, will pave the way for the release of Assadollah Assadi, a terrorist convicted in the Belgian courts and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a bomb plot targeting a rally by opponents of the Iranian regime in France.

The treaty also allows each party to grant amnesty, and there is little doubt that Assadi, who worked as an Iranian diplomat, would quickly be set free.

Tehran meanwhile has been holding Belgian humanitarian worker, Olivier Vandecasteele, in jail since February as leverage.

The treaty was approved by the parliament’s foreign affairs committee on July 6, which led to heated debate among MPs, with even some members from the ruling coalition critical of the accord. A few of their lawmakers shared concerns about why the treaty was rushed through parliament before the summer break, and said they weren’t able to consult enough external experts ahead of the vote.

“We had to be able to publicly express our reservations and deep concerns, and at the same time do our job as parliamentarians,” said Samuel Cogolati, a Green MP who is part of the governing coalition, ahead of the vote. “We tried as much as possible to consolidate, to give guarantees for the rule of law, while ensuring the release of our Belgian compatriot in Iran.”

The signoff by the full parliament was almost a given after the committee’s approval.

Last week, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo responded to MPs who denounced the deal as “blackmail” and a form of paying ransom to Iran for Vandecasteele’s release.

“What do you say to his family, that we will let him rot in his cell?” said De Croo. “Belgium does not abandon its citizens.”

Vandecasteele’s family has been urging Belgian authorities to take steps to release him, and welcomed the vote. “We as a family are proud to see [that] some politicians are taking the right decision to free an innocent man in horrible conditions in jail,” said Olivier Van Steirtegem, who is representing the family.

“It’s never a fair trade with a terrorist, but it’s also not fair to keep an innocent man in jail,” he added.

Reacting to the vote, François De Smet, the leader of the opposition party Défi, said the treaty would set a precedent that “will have terrible repercussions on the reputation of our country and the safety of our citizens.”

“Belgium sends the message that its justice is for sale,” he tweeted.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×