HCHR- The Fifth court hearing for Habib Farajollah Chaab, the ringleader of Harakat- al-Nezal terrorist grouplet, was held in the presence of the his lawyers and a number of families who had lost their loved ones in the terrorist attack carried out by this grouplet.
The highlights of the hearing is available here.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is among few nations to have been a major victim of terrorism despite taking various counter-terrorism measures. Over recent decades, more than 17,000 innocent civilians have lost their lives in terrorist operations carried out by a variety of terrorist groups including but not limited to the Mujahideen-e Khalq Organisation (hereinafter referred to as MKO), the Kurdistan Free Life Party (hereinafter referred to as PJAK), Komala, and the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz (hereinafter referred to as ASMLA). The ringleader of one of these terrorist groups has recently been arrested and brought to justice.
The sixth court hearing for Habib Farajollah Cha’ab, nicknamed Habib Asyud, the ringleader of the ASMLA terrorist grouplet, was held on 31 July 2022, the highlights of which are enumerated as hereinunder:
As the court session commenced and at the request of the judge, the attorney presenting the families of the martyrs of the terrorist incidents in Khuzestan Province, who were killed by the ASMLA terrorist grouplet, made the following statement.
Pointing out that the defendant, Habib Farajollah Cha’ab, who was the ringleader of the ASMLA terrorist grouplet took actions against public and private property in Khuzestan province, such as inflicting damage to oil pipelines, causing damage to public and private property after setting off a bomb in front of a private bank etc., the lawyer stated: The defendant has used weapons of war, such as bombs, grenades, Kalashnikov rifles, etc., to commit crimes attributed thereto. He added: The defendant, through planting bombs at public places under the pretext of [safeguarding and promoting] freedom, has martyred Iranian people from different ethnic groups. I, as the lawyer of my claimants, request Your Highness, the President of the Court, to prescribe severe punishment for the defendant.
Then, the Prosecutor General’s representative, at the request of the judge, appeared on the stand and stressed that Sweden has become a safe haven for terrorist groups such as PJAK, ASMLA and MKO terrorists. He added: Habib Farajollah Cha’ab is supported by Sweden and has dual citizenship of this country as well; this is while a red notice has been issued for him and he is in the international organizations’ wanted list. Back in 2019, Habib Farajollah Cha’ab went to Poland to take part in a conference organized by terrorist groups; he was arrested by the Polish authorities because of a red notice having been issued therefor. However, due to the pressure and direct influence of the Swedish government coupled with the U.S. support and lobby, he flew back to Sweden with an exclusive jet to continue his terrorist activities. The defendant wanted to carry out his plans at 10:00 a.m. so that more people would fall victim to his acts of terrorism.
Addressing the defendant, the judge then stated that based upon the indictment, evidence, documents, reports submitted by bailiffs of justice administration and security forces, videos and images of terrorist acts as well as confessions made by the abovenamed, the forgoing person is accused of a) forming, spearheading and directing the ASMLA terrorist grouplet, and b) carrying out terrorist operations in the Country. The judge asked the defendant to present his defense in response to charges attributed thereto.
By order of the judge, a video footage of the defendant and his accomplices brandishing arms in Khuzestan province was broadcast. The video clip was published by the ASMLA terrorist grouplet in cyberspace and similar media outlets to strike fear into the hearts of the people. The judge asked the defendant: You have been a resident and a dual citizen of Sweden and you’ve been supported by the security authorities and Swedish government, do you accept these things?
The defendant replied: Yes. I am a resident and citizen of Sweden. I am supported by the Swedish government and its’ security forces. They handed me a device to press its’ button whenever I am in jeopardy so that a signal will be sent to the Swedish government’s security forces who would rescue me wherever I am.
During the court session, a video footage of the terrorist operations carried out by the defendant including bombings in the Ahvaz Governor’s Office, the Ahvaz Housing and Urban Development Department, the Ahvaz Plan and Budget Department, and the Saman Bank branch in Ahvaz was displayed. Three of the terrorist operations in question have been carried out at 10:00 a.m. with the majority of the people being present there. The judge asked the defendant: “Do you know the current whereabouts of Saeed Hamidan and Zaman Soleimani?”, asked the judge. The defendant replied: They, along with Naji Mohammadzadeh, are currently in Sweden under the protection of the Swedish government and its’ security forces.
Referring to confessions made by the defendant, the judge said: The ringleader of the ASMLA terrorist grouplet has confessed to having procured financial resources through theft and acts of terrorism. The forgoing person has confessed to having set up an operation wing entitled Mohyeddin Al-Nasser in the Orient network with the purpose of attacking Iran’s military, economic and public properties and targeting civilians. The defendant has also confessed to having cooperated with the Saudi spy agency and received weapons from them to commit crimes attributed thereto. “Do you accept your confessions?”, the judge asked. The defendant replied: I have announced all my actions in writing and I accept all of them.