UK responsible for illegal anti-Iran media campaign: Iranian rights official

A senior Iranian human rights official has slammed the British government’s support for the “unlawful” anti-Iran campaign waged by the Persian-language media outlets, saying the role of anti-Iran UK-based media outlets is no less than that of terrorist groups.

“In fact, the anti-Iran Persian-language media’s moves are completely contrary to the laws and regulations, and we hold the British government responsible in this regard,” Secretary of the High Council for Human Rights Kazem Gharibabadi told reporters in New York on Monday.

Gharibabadi, who is also the deputy chief of the Iranian Judiciary, said British media regulator Ofcom must investigate such media violations which are supported by the British government.

He added that the role of anti-Iran media outlets is no less than that of terrorist groups or their members, as they have incited violence, crime, insecurity and terrorist acts across Iran.

Pointing to Iran’s recent designation of the London-based news network Iran International as a “terrorist organization” for instigating deadly riots in Iran following the death of a young Iranian woman two months ago, the Iranian official warned that the same fate also awaits the BBC Persian.

Gharibabadi further noted that in his talks with representatives from some 100 countries, he explained that the BBC Persian and Iran International have conducted hundreds of interviews with members of separatist and terrorist groups who incited violent and criminal acts in Iran.

The talks focused on giving correct and true explanations about developments in Iran and what is called “peaceful” gatherings by some Western countries and the United States, he said.

MG