Arrest of Haji Ahmadi, The Group Leader
In March 2010 the leader of PJAK, Abdul Rahman Haji Ahmadi, was arrested at his residence in Germany by German Police. Haji Ahmadi, however was released shortly afterward without the German government giving any details about the reason he was arrested or released.
Before his release, the Iranian government asked Germany to extradite the leader to Iran. Germany turned down Iran's request saying Haji Ahmadi is a German citizen.
Families of individuals killed by the PJAK in Iran demonstrated in front of the German Embassy in Tehran after his arrest, asking for the extradition and punishment of the group leader.
Iran became angry about the Germans' decision to free Haji Ahmadi, considering that the group had caused unrest in towns near the Iran-Iraq border and had killed civilians in those regions. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a news conference in Tehran that "the European countries, despite chanting the slogan of defending human rights, are practically supporting terrorism," and "there are many clues showing that Europe has become a safe haven for terrorists."
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