LOC00:46
21:46 GMT
MADRID, Feb 22 (KUNA) -- The Spanish Ministry of Interior announced Friday
that three Iranian men were arrested on suspicion of spying on Iranian
dissidents and asylum seekers for the ruling regime in Iran.
The three suspects penetrated a Spanish NGO that helps the asylum seekers
who fled their country for ideological reasons, and communicated information
on their identities to the Iranian secret services via the Iranian Embassy in
Madrid, said the ministry.
the arrests took place in the northern city of Torrelavega and in the
Spanish capital, the ministry said in a statement.
Those arrested include one who worked as legal advisor for the Spanish NGO
in Cantabria region, north Spain, another who worked as translator for the
organization and a staffer of the Iranian Embassy who was involved in the
illegitimate detention of an Iranian dissident.
The statement added that the suspects face the charge of breaching the
Spanish laws through communicating classified information and abusing and
harassing of foreign residents in Spain.
As investigations into the case got underway, more arrests are expected in
the few days ahead. (end)
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KUNA 230046 Feb 13NNNN