Denmark appeals court gives prison sentences to Iran nationals convicted of terrorism and espionage News
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Denmark appeals court gives prison sentences to Iran nationals convicted of terrorism and espionage

The Danish Eastern High Court upheld on Friday the conviction of three Iranian nationals found guilty of promoting terror and espionage, and handed down prison terms to the convicted Iranians. 

The three Iranian men, who are believed to belong to the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz, were arrested in February 2020 in connection with a deadly attack on a military parade in the Iranian city Ahvaz in September 2018. They were arrested in Ringsted, a town outside the Danish capital of Copenhagen. 

The men initially appeared before the District Court in Roskilde in February 2022, where they were found guilty of financing and attempting to finance terrorism, as well as gathering intelligence on individuals and organizations in Denmark and Iranian military affairs, which they subsequently passed on to Saudi intelligence services. 

The Eastern High Court on January 9 confirmed the Roskilde court’s verdict, unanimously finding all three men guilty of espionage. However, regarding the charge of promoting terror, the jurors were unable to achieve unanimity. Two jurors voted to acquit all three defendants of the charge, while the other jurors and legal judges were in favor of a guilty verdict. Per voting procedure in jury trials in the High Court, the defendant is found guilty if at least two legal judges and at least six jurors vote in favor. There are a total of nine jurors and three legal judges. 

The question before the court on Friday concerned both punishment/sentencing and deportation. Additionally, there was a question of revocation of citizenship to consider, as one of the three defendants had Danish nationality. The prosecution requested this be revoked. 

The court on Friday sentenced the men to prison terms of 6, 7, and 8 years in prison. The defendant who had citizenship will have this revoked, and all three defendants will be expelled from Denmark permanently. 

The Danish authorities have not yet released the names of the defendants involved. Per the Eastern High Court’s statement on their judgment, this is “due to the consideration of the state’s relationship with foreign powers as well as security considerations related to individuals.” Proceedings related to this case have largely been closed. 

The Danish authorities confirmed that the defendants will serve their time in Danish prisons, though it remains unclear when they will be expelled. 

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