ASMLA Holds Conference in Copenhagen Against Iran’s Terrorism

Danish policemen stand guard in front of the city court in Copenhagen, Denmark, on March 10, 2016. (AFP/SCANPIX DENMARK/Emil Hougaard)
Danish policemen stand guard in front of the city court in Copenhagen, Denmark, on March 10, 2016. (AFP/SCANPIX DENMARK/Emil Hougaard)
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ASMLA Holds Conference in Copenhagen Against Iran’s Terrorism

Danish policemen stand guard in front of the city court in Copenhagen, Denmark, on March 10, 2016. (AFP/SCANPIX DENMARK/Emil Hougaard)
Danish policemen stand guard in front of the city court in Copenhagen, Denmark, on March 10, 2016. (AFP/SCANPIX DENMARK/Emil Hougaard)

One month after foiling an assassination attempt against one of its leaders in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz (ASMLA) held on Saturday its annual conference entitled, “Ahwaz Against Iranian Terrorism,” to shed light on menaces caused by Tehran’s terrorism, both at the international and regional levels.

Arab and foreign politicians and lawyers from 20 states attended on Saturday the first of a two-day conference to discuss issues related to the Ahwaz and the failed assassination attempt against members of the group in Denmark one month ago.

ASMLA spokesperson Yaghub Hur Totsari told Asharq Al-Awsat that the conference aims to introduce the Danish and European publish opinion to the Iranian regime terrorism.

He said Tehran was exerting state terrorism against local entities, a phenomenon currently spreading to Europe.

The conference comes amid rising tension between the Scandinavian state and Tehran over Copenhagen's assertion that Tehran tried to kill members of the ASMLA on Danish soil.

Last Tuesday, Denmark said its ambassador would return to Iran, three weeks after he was recalled over the foiled assassination attempts.

Tehran had accused the ASMLA of standing behind an attack on a military parade in the Iranian city of Ahwaz on September 22nd, killing 24 people.

Late last month, the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) arrested a Norwegian man of Iranian origin for planning to carry out an assassination in Denmark.

Danish media outlets quoted on Friday a police statement confirming that the ASMLA conference would be held in the Danish capital under strict security measures.

A police official said the situation was under control during the weekend, adding that several checkpoints were placed near the Park Inn by Radisson hotel in Copenhagen, where the conference is held.

​On its first day, the conference presented a political committee that documented the impact of the Ahwaz case and its importance on the security, Arab and national levels in addition to means to enhance the Arab commitment towards their case.



Russia, Ukraine Complete Second Round of Prisoner Exchange

Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react following a prisoner swap at an undisclosed location, Ukraine, 10 June 2025. (EPA)
Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react following a prisoner swap at an undisclosed location, Ukraine, 10 June 2025. (EPA)
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Russia, Ukraine Complete Second Round of Prisoner Exchange

Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react following a prisoner swap at an undisclosed location, Ukraine, 10 June 2025. (EPA)
Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) react following a prisoner swap at an undisclosed location, Ukraine, 10 June 2025. (EPA)

Russia and Ukraine said Tuesday they had exchanged captured soldiers, the second stage of an agreement struck at peace talks last week for each side to free more than 1,000 prisoners.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday's exchange saw "the return of our injured and severely wounded warriors from Russian captivity."

Neither side said how many soldiers had been freed in the swap -- the second in as many days following another exchange on Monday.

The two sides had agreed in Istanbul last week to release all wounded soldiers and all under the age of 25.

Russia's defense ministry said: "In accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached on June 2 in Istanbul, the second group of Russian servicemen was returned."

Zelensky said further exchanges would follow.

"The exchanges are to continue. We are doing everything we can to find and return every single person who is in captivity."

The agreement had appeared in jeopardy over the weekend, with both sides trading accusations of attempting to thwart the exchange.

Russia says Ukraine has still not agreed to collect the bodies of killed soldiers, after Moscow said more than 1,200 corpses were waiting in refrigerated trucks near the border.

Russia said it had agreed to hand over the remains of 6,000 killed Ukrainian soldiers, while Kyiv said it would be an "exchange".

Moscow and Kyiv have carried out dozens of prisoner exchanges since Russia invaded in 2022, triggering Europe's largest conflict since World War II.