Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said the Iranian ambassador in the Netherlands had personally assured him that Al–Mansouri would not be executed. The Dutch ambassador in Tehran also received similar statement from Iranian authorities, Verhagen told Dutch parliament during a debate on the issue.
Al–Mansouri’s son, Adnan, said Monday, October 29, that a Syrian human rights group told him his father may be executed within the next 48 hours. However Verhagen said he received pledges that Al-Mansouri’s family will be able to make a phone call to the imprisoned activist.
Verhagen made clear he told the Iranian ambassador that en execution would mean "serious consequences" for the relationship between Iran and the Netherlands, although the minister refused to elaborate.
SPECIAL ENVOY
He also promised parliamentarians that a special envoy would visit Tehran next week to seek access to the jailed human rights activist. Diplomats from the Netherlands have so far been unable to visit the Iranian-born Al-Mansouri because Iranian authorities do not recognize his Dutch nationality, Netherlands National News Agency (ANP) reported.
Iran allegedly violated its pledge to allow the Dutch embassy in Tehran access to the trial. There have reportedly been three hearings this summer, without foreign diplomatic observers. Verhagen, who has come under mounting pressure, told parliament he had closely followed the case. Verhagen said he had summoned the Iranian ambassador several times, while Dutch diplomats in Iran and Syria protested against the treatment Al-Mansouri has received.
Verhagen said he plans to ask assistance from the European Union and may consider requesting his predecessor, Ben Bot, to mediate between the Netherlands and Iran. He also said police, secret services and other authorities must investigate the situation of Al–Mansouri’s son, who claims to have been threatened by Iranians. "It is unacceptable that Iran or any other country threatens people in the Netherlands," Verhagen said.
DUTCH QUEEN
The opposition Socialist Party urged the centrist Dutch government to ask Queen Beatrix to contact Iran’s head of state, but Verhagen rejected that proposal "for the moment." Al-Mansouri, 61, was detained in Syria in May 2006 before being transferred to Iran. Al-Mansouri, who received a Dutch royal award for his involvement in human rights, has been accused by Iran of "involvement in terrorism," charges critics link to his pro-democracy activities.
Iranian Christians were expected to monitor the case. Al-Mansouri was known for defending human rights of minorities in Syria and Iran. Christians are among those suffering hardship, rights groups say.
Several pastors and other Christians have been detained, and some executed, on charges of religious proselytizing and committing apostasy, an offense punishable by the death penalty under Islamic law in Iran. (With reporting from Iran).
