Government asks Qatar to arrest Iranian vice-president over AMIA charges
AMIA PROBE Foreign Ministry submits a request to Qatar filed by prosecutor in the case, Sebastián Basso.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry has asked the Qatari government to arrest visiting Iranian Vice-president Mohsen Rezai, citing allegations against him related to the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre.
The presentation relates to a request filed by the prosecutor in the case, Sebastián Basso, and included a request that Interpol red alerts related to the case be retained in force.
According to the Télam state news agency, the head of the AMIA Prosecution Unit (UFIAMIA) requested that “the appropriate diplomatic and foreign policy mechanisms be activated to comply with the court order for the arrest of Mohsen Rezai (issued by the then judge in the case Rodolfo Canicoba Corral on November 9, 2006), who is the subject of a red alert issued by Interpol for his alleged involvement in the AMIA bombing and who, according to various websites, has travelled to the State of Qatar.”
Rezai, who was commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps at the time, is accused of being one of the “masterminds” behind the 1994 terrorist bombing, in which 85 people were killed and more than 300 were injured.
According to reports, Rezai arrived in Doha last Sunday, where he was met and received by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Qatar and the Iranian Ambassador to that country.
Government sources confirmed that Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero had instructed Argentina’s ambassador in Doha, Guillermo Nicolás, to contact the country’s Foreign Ministry to request the arrest of Rezai, who has an Interpol red alert notice out on his name.
In January, Rezai was in Nicaragua for the inauguration of Sandinista Daniel Ortega and Argentina’s foreign service issued a similar request. It also condemned the Iranian’s appointment as vice-president last year.
WIESENTHAL CENTER JOINS CALL
The Wiesenthal Center was among those adding their voice to calls for Qatar to arrest Rezai, calling for the Iranian official’s immediate detention and extradition.
“Defying international law and exhibiting his impunity, Rezai travelled to Qatar as he did before to Nicaragua. In this instance, Argentina did everything correctly. We expect Qatar to respond in kind, ” said Ariel Gelblung, the Jewish human rights organisation’s director for Latin America.
“A few days before the opening of the Football Cup, Qatar has the opportunity to show whether it will be the host of ‘the so-called ‘Beautiful Game’ or the refuge of a criminal terrorist wanted by international justice,” added Shimon Samuels, the organisation’s director for international relations.