Iran's embassy in London has called for UK-based Iranians to “sacrifice their lives” as part of a new “martyrdom” scheme, it has emerged.
A new program by the embassy called “Jan Fada” (sacrificing life) “proud Iranian compatriots residing in Britain” the chance to join, reports MailOnline.
It summons “all brave and noble children of Iran” who have a “desire for the people's defence of the land of Iran” to show a “display of solidarity, loyalty, and national zeal”.
A post from the embassy on encrypted social media platform Telegram, written in Farsi, read: “Let us all, to a man, give our bodies to be slain; for it is better than giving our country to the enemy,” and directs those interested to a website where they can sign up.
Roger Macmillan, the former director of security at Iran International, a UK-based dissident news channel, told Mail Online that the fact that this program has been set up on British soil is “horrific”.
“This is an attempt [to radicalise] people who could be persuaded by the regime to commit acts in support of the Islamic Republic in the UK,” he said.
“This is a significant threat to security and of our whole way of life. It is a way of finding out who is supportive of the regime. They are not going to go back to Iran, it is for here in the UK.
“This is an escalation that is very, very worrying indeed. They are not interested in being discreet. This is the Russian playbook on steroids.”
Likewise, Dr Nadeh Fallah from the Iranian Human Rights and Allies group said: “We already know the Iranian regime has been targeting individuals in the UK and beyond - this is just the latest, most brazen example of that activity taking place in plain sight.
“This kind of messaging is not benign. It is designed to appeal to the most hardline, ideologically driven individuals and to encourage a dangerous culture of fanaticism and martyrdom.
“That should concern every policymaker and every security agency in this country.”
A spokesman for the Iranian Embassy in London said: “Iranians around the world have always cared deeply about their homeland and the protection of its territorial integrity and they always will.
The “Jan Fada” platform is intended for all Iranians who wish to support and defend their country, and it does not promote any form of hostility.
“Any claims or assumptions to the contrary are simply unfounded. Such biased judgments are made hastily and without proper understanding.”
The Metropolitan Police and the Home Office have both been contacted by the JC.
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