By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran on Thursday denounced Interpol’s decision to place on a wanted list five prominent Iranians for the bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires in 1994. On previous day, the global police agency’s general assembly responded to Argentina’s request by voting to issue the “red notices” seeking the extradition of the Iranians and a Lebanese allegedly responsible for the attack that killed 85 people.
Red notices inform governments that a certain individual is wanted with a view to extradition but do not force a country to arrest suspects. Although the notices do not always result in the wanted individual’s apprehension, they are symbolically important and can put government leaders on the spot for letting suspects roam freely in their country. Notices also make it more risky for suspects to travel abroad.
Iran, which had fought hard to avoid having the country’s name linked to the bombing, denounced the decision as politically motivated and unlawfully influenced by Israel and its friends in the United States. Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini also criticized Interpol for allowing its professional reputation to be tarnished by “succumbing to the Zionist regime and some dominant power’s political will.”
Last year, Argentina issued international arrest warrants for nine in connection with the bombing, including former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. However, Interpol in March issued its own wanted notices against six of the nine, excluding Rafsanjani.
The Iranians who made the list include former intelligence chief Ali Fallahian; Ahmad Vahidi, a Revolutionary Guards general; Mohsen Rabbani, former cultural attaché at Iran’s embassy in Buenos Aires; Mohsen Rezaei, former head of the Revolutionary Guards; and Ahmad Reza Asghari, former third secretary in Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires and a Revolutionary Guards general.
So far, Iran has denied all allegations linking 1994 bombing to the aforementioned Iranians. Hosseini said “Iran will take necessary legal measure and other steps until these notices are cancelled and will demand compensation as well.” In addition, in a retaliatory move against Argentina, an Iranian court summoned five Argentines accusing them of “actions against the security of the Islamic Republic.”
For more information, please see:
AFP – Interpol warrants decision pleases Israel, angers Iran – 8 November 2007
Reuters – Iran rejects Interpol wanted notices – 8 November 2007
International Herald Tribune – Iran rejects Interpol decision to add Iranians to most-wanted list – 8 November 2007
Associated Press – A look at 6 put on Interpol wanted list – 8 November 2007
ABC News – Interpol issues red notices against bombing suspects – 8 November 2007
