UPDATE, JAN 10:
The Iranian judiciary has confirmed a total sentence of 40 years in prison, dozens of lashes, and financial penalties for Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele.
The punishment is even greater than the 28-year sentence announced by Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne in Parliament on December 14.
The judiciary said Vandecasteele received 12 1/2 years for spying for foreign intelligence services; 12 1/2 years for “cooperating with the hostile United States government against the Islamic Republic”; 2 1/2 years, 74 lashes, and a $1 million fine for “professional smuggling of foreign currency”; and 12 1/2 years for money laundering.
The judiciary said the sentence can be appealed.
UPDATE, DEC 19:
Belgium’s government has called on its citizens to leave Iran, following the imposition of a 28-year sentence on Olivier Vandecasteele.
The Government said in a statement on Sunday:
All Belgian visitors, including [dual] nationals, are at high risk of arrest, arbitrary detention and unfair trial. This risk also applies to people who are simply visiting Iran for tourism.
In the event of arrest or detention, respect for fundamental rights and the safety of individuals are not guaranteed.
In this context, the capacity of the Belgian embassy in Tehran to provide consular protection to nationals arrested or detained in Iran is very limited.
Any nationals remaining in Iran are advised to limit their movements and to “avoid any type of gathering”.
About 200 nationals registered this summer with Belgium’s consular service in Iran.
ORIGINAL ENTRY, DEC 15: Iran’s authorities have sentenced Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele to 28 years in prison.
Belgium’s Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne told Parliament of the sentence on Wednesday over a “fabricated series of crimes”.
Van Quickenborne said the Government is making all efforts to secure Vandecasteele’s release.
The Justice Minister noted that Iran’s officials have used Vandencasteele as leverage to obtain the release of diplomat Assadollah Assadi.
Assadi was convicted last year of attempted terrorism and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Belgium over a foiled plot to bomb a 2018 Paris rally of the French-based National Council of Resistance of Iran.
See also Belgium Gives Iranian Diplomat 20-Year Sentence Over Bomb Plot
In July, the Belgium Parliament approved a prisoner swap treaty with Iran. However, Belgium’s highest court put the treaty on hold last week, saying it would make a final decision within three months.
Van Quickenborne said, that despite the court ruling, the agreement is still legally relevant for Vandencasteele.
For years Iran’s agencies, including the Revolutionary Guards, have detained a series of foreign and dual nationals. The detentions have been stepped up during the current 13-week nationwide protests, as the Iranian regime tries to blame the demonstrations for rights and justice on “enemy” countries.
Snowfall scenes across Iran: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480067/Snowfall-blankets-most-provinces
This is what the country really looks like. People building snowmen and having fun.
Meanwhile, another protester has been sentenced to death [on the charge of] running over policemen: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480080/Iran-s-Supreme-Court-upholds-death-penalty-on-rioter-running
Moharebeh (waging war) and Fesad-b’il-arz (corruption on earth) are Islamic terms (Qur’an 5:33) used for political crimes against the state/community which involve violence (in this case murder and assault).
Iran claims the JCPOA is ready to be revived once the issues with the IAEA are resolved: https://twitter.com/AbasAslani/status/1604748091508375552
Blizzards and heavy snow carpets Iran: https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1401/10/03/2825788
Iran needs precipitation to stave off a water crisis (there was talk of rationing). Snow is particularly good because it melts in the summer and replenishes rivers.
[Editor’s Note: This article on Iran State media is by “anti-imperialist” Caleb Maupin, formerly of Occupy Wall Street, who is prominent on Russian and Iranian State media with his support of the regime’s line.]
Caleb Maupin discusses disinformation against Iran: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/480001/Author-U-S-outrage-about-human-rights-is-selective
“The intent is to create disruption and confusion within Iran, in the hopes of creating instability and bringing down the Islamic Republic. They see information warfare as vital for their effort to weaken Iran from within and push for greater control in the region and in the global economy….. The spreading of fake news has had real results in terms of human life. The U.S. media has a long record of misrepresenting events in Iran to serve its own agenda.”
Iran to implement smart approach to hijab law: https://www.hamshahrionline.ir/news/729442
A plan has been devised to enforce the law of mandatory hijab that does not involve any verbal warnings, arrests or physical coercion. Those who break the law will be subject to fines, bank account freezes or the denial of social services. This will be managed through intelligence and the cooperation of 37 government agencies. The law itself, however, will remain unchanged. The morality police will still operate but only in an observational capacity.
Protest update. HRANA reports significant protests in 2 cities as of yesterday: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h5-7GfUpi3RHjwKCNCp-bhVpuiYtUEc4kjWRGW5ZM9Y/edit#
The number of security officers killed in the unrest has risen to 66, but this is because of a firefight with separatist terrorists near the Pakistani border: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/19/irgc-says-four-security-forces-killed-near-pakistan-border
Iranians are preparing for Yalda night (winter solstice) which will not help calls for protests tomorrow and Wednesday.
[Editor’s Note: A hit piece on detained rights activist Hossein Ronaghi from Iran State English-language outlet Press TV, which is under international sanctions for human rights violations.]
Hunger striker or attention seeker? The curious case of Hossein Ronaghi: https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/12/19/694736/Hunger-Strike-Attention-Seeker-Curious-Case-Hossein-Ronaghi-Investigator-MH
“The Persian service of Voice of America (VOA) reported that Ronaghi’s parents quoted him as saying in a phone call that judicial officers had broken both his legs. They also said that he was “hit in the head by security forces” following his arrest in a way that he “lost consciousness……Ali Nouri, who was in Evin prison during Ronaghi’s term, said in a note after the latter’s release that he showed no signs of broken legs or any other harm to his body during his detention.”
In 1981, Bobby Sanders’ hunger strike in uk got mullahs attention in Tehran, so much so that they named a street in Tehran after him. So, zip it!
Leaked Info Reveals Details About John Bolton Terror Plot
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202212152331
[Editor’s Note: No evidence has been presented in public against Vandecasteele.]
“Iran authorities sentenced Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele to 28 years in prison, using him as leverage for release of a convicted Iranian diplomat.”
That’s your own interpretation and that of the Belgian government. He was tried by an independent court although information was presented by the state prosecutor from the intelligence ministry.