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A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 8 May 2023
Iran hangs Iranian-Swedish man over 2018 attack killing 25

By JON GAMBRELL unfair.”
Associated Press “This is an example of the
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- Islamic Republic’s state
ates (AP) — Iran executed terrorism,” said Mahmood
an Iranian-Swedish dual Amiry-Moghaddam, the
national Saturday accused group’s director. “We
of masterminding a 2018 expect that the EU and
attack on a military parade Swedish government show
that killed at least 25 peo- adequate reaction to the
ple, one of several enemies murder of their citizen. Kill-
of Tehran seized abroad in ing a hostage must not be
recent years amid tensions tolerated.”
with the West. Tensions already had es-
Farajollah Cha’ab, also calated between Iran and
known as Habib Asyoud, Sweden over the life impris-
had been a leader of the onment of Hamid Noury,
Arab Struggle Movement an Iranian convicted in
for the Liberation of Ahwaz, Sweden of committing
an Arab separatist move- grave war crimes and mur-
ment that has conducted der during the final phase
oil pipeline bombings and of the Iran-Iraq war in the
other attacks in Iran’s oil- 1980s. The end of the war
rich Khuzestan province. saw mass executions of
That group had claimed In this photo released by Mizan News Agency on Oct. 25, 2022, Iranian-Swedish dual national an estimated 5,000 Iranian
the 2018 attack in its imme- Farajollah Cha’ab arrives at a courtroom at the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, Iran. prisoners, including those
Associated Press
diate aftermath. from an exiled opposition
Cha’ab’s execution comes The Iranian judiciary’s Iranian trials that activists punishment, and Sweden, group and others.
as a Swedish court last year Mizan news agency con- long have described as co- together with the rest of The 2018 attack in Iran tar-
sentenced an Iranian to firmed Cha’ab’s execution erced confessions. the (European Union), con- geted a military parade
life in prison over his part by hanging in a lengthy It also clearly identified Ira- demns its use under all cir- in Ahvaz in Khuzestan, the
in the 1988 mass execu- statement. It identified him nian intelligence officers as cumstances,” he said in a chaos captured live on
tions in Iran at the end of as the leader of the militant being behind Cha’ab’s ab- statement. state television. Militants dis-
its war with Iraq. Tehran, group and alleged without duction, saying that its “un- Sweden’s Nordic neighbors guised as soldiers opened
which has used prisoners providing evidence that he known soldiers” captured Finland and Norway also fire, killing at least 25 peo-
as bargaining chips in ne- had ties to Swedish, Israelis him in Turkey in November strongly condemned the ple and wounding over 60
gotiations with the West, and U.S. intelligence ser- 2019. Iran has used similar execution, underlying their others in the deadliest at-
reacted angrily to that sen- vices. It accused his group ruses to capture its enemies stance against the death tack to strike Iran in years.
tence. Meanwhile, tensions of killing or wounding 450 abroad, including the ex- penalty. “I am appalled,” A spokesman for the sepa-
also remain high between people over the years, in- iled journalist Ruhollah Zam said Finnish Foreign Minister ratist group claimed the as-
Iran and the West over its cluding multiple attacks who was executed in 2020. Pekka Haavisto. sault shortly after in a tele-
rapidly advancing nuclear on government offices and Swedish Foreign Minister To- The Oslo-based group Iran vised interview. The Islamic
program as well — and at other sites. bias Billstrom condemned Human Rights separately State group also claimed
least one more prisoner It also included state Cha’ab’s execution. condemned the execu- the attack, though it of-
with Western ties faces a television interviews with “The death penalty is an tion, referring to Cha’ab’s fered factually incorrect
possible execution. Cha’ab, a feature of many inhumane and irrevocable closed-door trial as “grossly details about the assault.q

Deaths from Congo floods approach

400 as search continues

ing many found floating in leader in Kalehe, said he fin,” Chebujongo said.
Lake Kivu. understood that thousands The Congolese govern-
Administrator Thomas Bak- of people remained miss- ment declared Monday as
enge said the confirmed ing. He told the AP that a national day of mourning,
number of dead stood at some doctors arrived to with flags to fly at half-staff
394 but it was a provisional treat the injured but com- in memory of the victims.
count since the search was munities were pleading A delegation of govern-
continuing. More than 300 for more emergency assis- ment officials and lawmak-
victims had been buried tance. ers sent by Congo’s presi-
People walk next to a house destroyed by the floods in the as of Sunday, local groups The destruction caused by dent, Félix Tshisekedi, ar-
village of Nyamukubi, South Kivu province, in Congo, Saturday, said. the flooding hampered aid rived in Bukavu, a city near
May 6, 2023. Torrential rains across Kale- efforts, with two main roads the southern part of Lake
Associated Press he territory began on Thurs- impassable. Kivu and planned to visit
By JUSTIN KABUMBA cial. day evening. Rivers broke More than 170 victims were the devastated area on
Associated Press The administrator of the their banks, with flash floods buried in four mass graves, Monday, according to a
GOMA, Congo (AP) — The worst-affected area, the sweeping away the major- Valet Chebujongo, a youth government spokesperson.
death toll from floods in Kalehe territory of South ity of buildings in the villag- political activist helping in Heavy rains in recent days
eastern Congo has almost Kivu province, told The As- es of Bushushu and Nyamu- the rescue efforts in Kalehe, have brought misery to
doubled, reaching close to sociated Press by phone kubi, causing the huge loss said by telephone. “Imag- thousands in East Africa, in-
400 people as of Sunday, that more bodies were re- of life. ine, you bury them in a cluding in parts of Uganda
according to a local offi- covered Sunday, includ- Delphin Birimbi, a civic mass grave, without a cof- and Kenya.q