Kenyan court drops terror charges against two Iranians

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI

Kenya on Wednesday freed two Iranians accused of planning a terror attack on the Israeli Embassy in Nairobi.

The two Iranians – Sayed Nasrollah Ebrahimi and Abdolhosein Gholi Safee - were arrested by Kenyan Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) on Nov. 29 while filming and taking photos of the heavily guarded Israeli Embassy in Kenya.

The two Iranian lawyers had previously told a Kenyan court that they were in the country to pay a visit to two Iranians jailed for 15 years after being found in possession of explosives. The Kenyan court later charged them with plotting a terror attack, charges which they denied.

On Wednesday a Kenyan court said it had dropped the charges following a request from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP).

In a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution confirming the release of the Iranians, the ODPP said the decision to set free the two Iranians was reached after negotiations with the Iranian Embassy in Kenya.

“Nairobi court orders for deportation of two Iranians charged with the collection of information for purpose of terrorist act, deportation orders issued and signed by Interior Cabinet Secretary (Joseph Nkaissery),” the office of Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko said.

The two Iranians were escorted to the Jomo Kenyatta international airport under the orders of Senior Principal Magistrate Joyce Gandani where they were to be deported immediately.