French justice authorizes extradition of Iranian engineer to the United States

Text by: RFI Follow

French justice does not oppose the extradition of an Iranian engineer arrested last year. The United States wants to try him, believing that he tried to violate American sanctions. A decision of the Court of Cassation on Tuesday makes this extradition possible, but it is now up to the French government to decide.

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His name is Jalal Rohollahnejad. This Iranian forty-something engineer and university graduate has been sleeping in a French prison since February 2019. No prosecution has been brought against him in France. The United States is looking for it. Washington accuses him of having attempted to bring high-tech equipment into Iran, in violation of American sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic.

Seized by the lawyers of Jalal Rohollahnejad, French justice has ruled on several occasions until the Court of Cassation. Since Wednesday, March 11, there is no longer anything legally against the extradition of the Iranian engineer to the United States, but by law it is up to the French government to authorize or not the transfer of the prisoner. This extradition of Jalal Rohollahnejad to the United States therefore requires a decree from Prime Minister Édouard Philippe.

The case therefore becomes very political, especially since two French researchers, Fariba Adelkhah and Roland Marchal, have been detained in Iran since last June and that recently prisoner exchanges have taken place between the Islamic Republic and other countries like the 'Germany and even the United States.

Reached by RFI, one of the lawyers of Jalal Rohollahnejad confirms that the latter hopes to be able to return to his country thanks to such an exchange.

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• Iran
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• United States