The three are accused of raising money for Arab separatist militias in Iran and of assisting a Saudi intelligence service in operating in Denmark. They have been in prison for more than a year, and on Thursday the case against them started.
The gray concrete building on Islandsvej in Herfølge is surrounded by police officers. During the morning, explosive dogs have sniffed through the area outside the building and all cars have been rented away by the submachine gun-armed police officers on the spot.
– It is not about the defendants posing a security risk or that there is an escape risk. The high security is about the defendants being seriously threatened. So it’s about protecting the accused and all of us, says John Larsen.
The three defendants are on the board of the association Ahwazna Foundation. It is part of the separatist movement ASMLA, which fights for the secession of the Arab territory around the city of Ahvaz in southern Iran.
One of them has been the target of an assassination attempt planned by an Iranian intelligence service on Danish soil. A man was sentenced last year to seven years in prison in that case.
So there has been a concrete threat, and the announcement from presiding judge John Larsen at the beginning of Thursday’s court hearing indicates that there is still danger ahead.
On the more curious end, the threat has the very noticeable consequence that listeners at the trial must be accompanied by a police officer during toilet visits.
In the rented building, there are four toilets in the basement, which are intended for the audience.
– As a member, you must not go down to the basement without being accompanied by the police, it sounds from John Larsen.
The three men plead not guilty to the charges against them. They see themselves as being persecuted by the Iranian regime – not as terrorists and spies.
60 days have been set aside for the case, which is expected to be decided in November or December.