On March 11, 2025, the UK Parliament’s Joint Human Rights Committee convened to address the Iranian regime’s transnational terrorism, chaired by Lord Alton. Testimony was provided by Hossein Abedini, the Deputy Representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in the UK, who survived an assassination attempt from regime operatives. The aim was to delve into the human rights implications and security concerns associated with these acts of terror.
Abedini recounted his near-fatal encounter in Istanbul on March 14, 1990, when armed assailants ambushed his vehicle. Shot multiple times, he narrowly escaped death as one bullet missed his heart by mere millimetres. Following this horrific attack, he endured significant internal bleeding, over 50 days in a coma, and numerous surgeries, yet the Iranian regime continued to target him even while in the hospital, illustrating their relentless pursuit to eliminate dissent.
During the hearing, concerns were raised regarding the risks faced by activists in the UK from foreign governments. Abedini highlighted that the Iranian regime’s external terrorism is an extension of its internal violence, citing over 1,000 executions in 2024, the highest in three decades. As unrest within Iran escalates, so does the regime’s brutal tactics against both dissidents and activists abroad.
He warned that Iranian diplomats often employ terrorist strategies under the guise of legitimate roles, emphasising that such operations have historically been facilitated through embassies. Abedini urged the UK government to declare the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Intelligence as terrorist organisations and called for the closure of Iranian embassies that support these grave actions.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of expelling Iranian agents abusing their refugee or citizenship status to engage in espionage and terrorist activities. The testimony underscored the systematic intimidation of Iranian dissidents, with families in Iran threatened and assets seized to coerce compliance.
UK Parliament members expressed profound concern over these issues, as Baroness Kennedy asked about the ongoing threats against Abedini. He revealed that pressures have even led to his father’s death. Lord Alton probed into how such intimidation affects Abedini’s activism, to which he responded that the fight for a free Iran requires unwavering courage, insisting that “freedom will not be handed to us on a silver platter.”
MP Alex Sobel noted that the Iranian regime has been responsible for almost 500 terrorist operations over the last four decades, resulting in the assassination of at least 300 dissidents. This alarming tally reinforces the need for decisive action against the IRGC and Iranian-affiliated institutions in the UK.
The hearing vividly highlighted how the Iranian regime employs terrorism to silence dissent, reinforcing the urgent need for the UK to take a firm stance against these threats. Calls were made for the government to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, close relevant cultural centres, and expel Iranian operatives from the UK, prompting a reflection of the growing alarm among lawmakers about Iran’s global terror network and the need for unified international action.
The UK Parliament’s Joint Human Rights Committee, led by Lord Alton, examined the Iranian regime’s transnational terrorism on March 11, 2025. Hossein Abedini provided shocking testimony about his assassination attempt in 1990 and the regime’s continued threats against dissidents. Abedini called for the UK government to classify the IRGC as a terrorist organisation and expel Iranian operatives. The session highlighted the urgency for coordinated action to combat Iran’s global terror network and protect human rights.
In conclusion, the UK Parliament’s Joint Human Rights Committee hearing on the Iranian regime’s transnational terrorism revealed alarming testimonies that underscore the imperative for immediate action. Hossein Abedini’s harrowing narrative not only highlights the regime’s attempts to silence dissent but also calls for stronger measures from the UK government to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organisation and dismantle its operational channels in the UK. The urgency of these actions is further amplified by the alarming statistics of violence against dissidents, demanding a united international response against such brutal tactics.
Original Source: www.ncr-iran.org
