Alireza Zakani is the founder of the ‘’Society of Supporters of the Islamic Revolution’’ and a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a paramilitary body which the European Parliament called to be listed as a terrorist group by the EU.

 

A visit by the hardline mayor of Tehran Alireza Zakani in Brussels on Monday caused an uproar in Belgium and fierce criticism on social media.

Zakani, who was named mayor of Tehran in 2021,  was in the Belgizn capital to take part in the Urban Summit 2023.

His participation garnered particular attention as he is the founder of the ‘’Society of Supporters of the Islamic Revolution’’ and a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a paramilitary body which the European Parliament called to be listed as a terrorist group by the EU as it was involved in the brutal repression of street protests against the Iranian regime since 2022.  Zakani was once the head of the Basij Student Organization, which was sanctioned by the European Union in May for human rights violations.

He was also a candidate for the post of president but he withdrew his candidacy in favor of Ebrahim Raisi, another hardline leader of the regime.

According to the Belgian media, the Iranian was even invited to speak at an event within the Brussels City Hall where he met with Brussels mayor Philippe  Close.

Pascal Smet, Secretary of State of the Brussels regional government, whose office was responsible for inviting participants to the summit, is facing fierce backlash, both in the city  and in the Federal Parliament, not least given the recent detention of Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, who was freed from inhumane conditions at the hands of Iranian authorities in a prisoner swap that included the release by Belgium of an Iranian diplomat who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Belgium over a 2018 plot to bomb a rally of the Iranian opposition rally near Paris.

“It is shocking and regrettable,” said Brussels Liberal MP David Leisterh. “I am asking for explanations: rolling out the red carpet for those who take hostages is not acceptable.”

Belgian federal MP Sophie Rohonyi accused Smet of supporting the Iranian regime which is “repressing its population with blood.” She branded the invitation a “serious political fault”.

Smet did not deny his role in facilitating a visa for the Iranian. The foreign ministry reportedly advised against issuing visas to representatives of the Iranian regime but a visa for Zakani was issued after Smet downplayed concerns about him.