Iran sentences Belgian aid worker to 40 years in prison

ALBAWABA - An Iranian court sentenced a Belgian aid worker to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes after it said it found him guilty of espionage and other serious crimes.

Last February, Iran's security police arrested Olivier Vandecasteele. He was later charged with four crimes, including "spying for foreign intelligence agencies" and "collaborating with the hostile U.S. government against the Islamic Republic", according to Anadolu. 

For those two specific charges, the 41-year-old man was handed down 24 years in jail, which was later increased by another 15 years for allegedly smuggling foreign currency and money laundering according to the country, Iran's judiciary said. The verdict can be appealed within three weeks.

The Belgian worked for the relief agency, the Norwegian Refugee Council, which rejected the charges. But Iranian newspapers asserted that Vandecasteele arrived in Iran "under the guise of humanitarian work" to spy for foreign intelligence agencies and disturb the country's internal security, the Turkish news agency reported.

Belgium also dismissed the accusations. It termed the imprisonment as illegal and that Vandecasteele was arrested on a "series of fabricated charges." Brussels also summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest the verdict amid intense criticism by Belgian bloggers, who argued that their government's action was insufficient and demanded stringent follow-up steps.