“A scientist performing important humanitarian work has been sentenced without public trial and is looking at the death penalty. This is an outrageous violation of universal human rights, against which we should react decisively.”
Rector Caroline Pauwels — VUB [Vrije Universiteit Brussel]
“I have never acted against my country, I have never spied for Israel or any other country. My only fault is that I did not accept to use the trust of my colleagues and universities in EU to spy for Iran’s intelligence services.”
Professor Ahmadreza Djalali
Professor Ahmadreza Djalali
Professor Djalali was convicted of espionage following a trial led by Abolqasem Salavati, a judge in Iran’s revolutionary court, and sentenced to death on October 21 2017. Djalali has 20 days to appeal against the sentence. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today
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The Tehran’s prosecutor said that Professor Dajlali was guilty of providing information to Israel to help it assassinate several senior nuclear scientists.
Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi told the judiciary’s news agency:
“The person had several meetings with (Israeli intelligence agency) Mossad and provided them with sensitive information about Iran’s military and nuclear sites in return for money and residency in Sweden.”
At least four scientists were killed between 2010 and 2012 in what Tehran said was a program of assassinations aimed at sabotaging its nuclear energy program.
The United States has denied Iran’s accusation that it was involved in the scientists’ deaths, while Israel has a policy of not commenting on such allegations.
Dolatabadi said the convicted person gave Mossad information about 30 nuclear and military scientists including Massoud Ali Mohammadi, who was killed by a remote-controlled bomb attached to a motorcycle outside his home in Tehran.
The judiciary said the defendant was also linked to the assassination of nuclear engineer Majid Shahriari, killed in a bomb attack in November 2010. [REUTERS]
The Story of Professor Ahmadreza Djalali
Professor Ahmadreza Djalali teaches at the European Master in Disaster Medicine [EMDM], a joined master by the “Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale” and the “Vrije Universiteit Brussel” [VUB].
Professor Djalali — about 45-year old — was arrested in April 2016 in Iran, while visiting his family. He has spent many months in isolation. Professor Djalali told his sister he has been forced to sign a confession.
LIFE — Professor Djalali studied medicine at the University of Tabriz in Iran and obtained a Ph.D. in disaster medicine — the study of health care management during large-scale emergencies — at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. His research focuses on how hospitals can best prepare for events with large numbers of casualties, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks.
ARREST — Djalali was arrested in April 2016 by the security forces of Iran’s Ministry of Information while en route from Tehran to the city of Karaj and was taken to the infamous Evin Prison.
LEGAL CHARGES — His family has been informed that the investigation relates to an issue of ‘national security’. The Iranian government blames him for collaboration with scientists from foreign enemy states (Read US & Israel). [The joint masters program draws students and professors from countries around the world — including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.]
STATUS — Professor Djalali has a wife and two children aged 14 and 5. He now has serious health issues after losing 18 kilograms during a hunger strike that he began on 26 December 2016.
DEATH SENTENCE — February 2017. Peiman Seadat — the Iranian ambassador to Belgium — told Flemish Minister-President Geert Bourgeois that Professor Ahmadreza Djalali – who teaches at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) – has not received a death sentence.
Belgian Minister Geert Bourgeois recently spoke to the Iranian ambassador about Professor Djalali.
“ The Iranian ambassador denied that Djalali has been sentenced to death and said that he is in pre-trial detention. He assured me that Djalali has the right to a free and fair trial, assisted by a lawyer,” Belgian Minister Geert Bourgeois said.
“Djalali’s fate is still in unknown; I am waiting for more information. It is important that Iran, with which we want to have good relations, understands clearly that we are very worried about Djalali.”
October 2017 — The death sentence is confirmed.
Ahmad Reza Jalali: Death Sentence Without a Trial
REFERENCES
VUB professor Ahmadreza Djalali sentenced to death in Iran — VUB Official website
Disaster medicine scientist sentenced to death in Iran — Science
Iran sentences ‘Mossad agent’ to death over scientist killings — Reuters
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IRAN — Belgium University Professor Death Sentenced
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