On June 19, the French newspaper Le Monde published an in-depth report shedding light on the assassination attempt of Prof. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, the former Vice President of the European Parliament. The attempt, which occurred on November 9, 2023, in Madrid, has taken a significant turn with the arrest of the main suspect, Mehrez Ayari, in the Netherlands on June 6. According to the report, Ayari was allegedly contracted by the Iranian regime, highlighting a profound development in the ongoing investigation.
Prof. Vidal-Quadras was attacked in broad daylight while walking home from Retiro Park. A man in a blue jacket and motorcycle helmet approached him from behind and shot him. The intended headshot went through Vidal-Quadras’ jaw due to a reflexive movement, sparing his life. Passers-by swiftly came to his aid, and he spent sixteen days in the hospital undergoing surgery.
From the beginning, Vidal-Quadras was vocal about his belief that the Iranian regime was behind the attack. “I do not doubt that this is the Iranian regime. Iran has a long tradition of extraterritorial terrorist activities against dissidents and foreigners who support them,” he told Le Monde. His conviction is rooted in his staunch support for the Iranian Resistance, including the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK). His advocacy placed him on a blacklist of enemies of the Iranian regime published by Tehran in October 2022.
Returning to NCRI Event, Dr. Alejo Vidal Quadras Challenges Regime and Pledges Support of #Iran’s Resistancehttps://t.co/bvY89ZdjRW
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 6, 2024
The arrest of Ayari has intensified suspicions of Iranian involvement. A Tunisian national residing in Villejuif, France, Ayari had a lengthy criminal record but had never before been implicated in an international political assassination. Le Monde revealed French authorities wanted Ayari for the murder of a cannabis dealer in Val-d’Oise in August 2022. Despite being on the run, Ayari continued his criminal pursuits, culminating in the attempt on Vidal-Quadras’ life.
Spanish investigators, working in concert with their French and Dutch counterparts, managed to trace Ayari using CCTV footage and an international arrest warrant issued shortly before the attack. Investigations unveiled that Ayari was planning another politically motivated murder at the time of his capture.
Le Monde’s report also highlighted the involvement of the Mocro Mafia, a notorious drug trafficking cartel based in the Netherlands. This criminal group has previously been associated with extrajudicial killings purportedly ordered by Tehran. Dutch intelligence linked the Mocro Mafia to the assassinations of two Iranian dissidents in the Netherlands in 2015 and 2017. The cartel’s readiness to execute such high-stakes operations for the Iranian regime underscores Tehran’s reach and its capability to exploit criminal networks for political objectives.
Prof. Vidal-Quadras’ allegations against Iran are not without historical context. The NCRI and PMOI/MEK have long been targets of Iranian hostility due to their persistent advocacy for democracy and human rights in Iran. Vidal-Quadras’ unwavering support for these groups rendered him a prime target for Tehran’s violent reprisals.
THREAD
For more than four decades, the clerical regime in #Iran has consistently blackmailed other nations and considered #extremism as "leverage". 1/9https://t.co/ieaaOkZb6y pic.twitter.com/W9u5BJHXqs— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 6, 2022
The arrest of Mehrez Ayari marks a pivotal moment in the investigation, potentially unraveling a complex web of international crime and political vendetta. As authorities delve deeper, the intricate connections between state-sponsored terrorism and organized crime are becoming increasingly apparent, painting a troubling picture of the lengths to which the Iranian regime will go to silence its critics.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
