Official Urges Australia to Release Detained Iranian Woman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A senior Iranian human rights official called on the Australian government to release an Iranian lady detained on charges of violating US commercial laws and to avoid handing her over to the US, citing the pregnant woman’s medical conditions.
In a meeting with Australia’s ambassador to Tehran on Tuesday, Chief of the Iranian Judiciary's Human Rights Council Mohammad Javad Larijani demanded that the Australian government immediately free Iranian citizen Negar Qods Kani.
Expressing the Iranian administration and Judiciary’s deep concern about detention of the Iranian woman in Australia and the possibility that she might be handed over to the US, Larijani said Qods Kani is reportedly in critical physical and mental conditions given her pregnancy.
Qods Kani has not committed any crime, so it is illogical to extradite her to the US, he said, adding that Australia is expected to release her on bail and let her have a safe delivery.
In dealing with the Iranian woman’s case, the judge in the Australian court should not take into consideration only the US claims, Larijani added, saying Iran’s Judiciary is available to answer the Australian court’s queries about the case.
Iran strongly urges Australia not to hand Qods Kani over to the US, because the US security apparatus has a terrible record of treating inmates and has no respect for human rights norms, he stressed.
According to IRNA, Qods Kani has been jailed by the Australian judicial officials since June 16 for alleged violation of US commercial laws.
The Iranian woman, waiting for her first delivery, and her husband emigrated to Australia six years ago through legal procedures.
