A hundred people are busy between the editorial staff, the management and the studio. Nothing seems to disturb those who work in this building in west London, Monday November 14th. The Iran International channel broadcasts 24 hours a day in Persian from the United Kingdom and deals daily with the revolution in progress in Iran, relaying in particular the videos sent by Iranian demonstrators.
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This time it was Scotland Yard who warned Aliasghar Ramezanpour. A risk considered serious by the English police. The director of information enjoys discreet protection. This is not the first time that he has come under pressure from the Tehran regime. The threat is recent, through a member of his family who remained in Iran. “This relative was summoned to an official building of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards.says Aliasghar Ramezanpour. They showed him a photo of me walking down a street in London to send him this message: ‘We know where he lives. We know everything about him. He can’t hide. Ask him to stop what he’s doing.'”
The risk is real, even on British soil. On social networks, the Iranian regime also threatens. Like when he publishes a poster where it is written in large “Wanted” [recherché] with photos of the channel’s most prominent journalists. And this title: “Media Terrorists”. But Iran International continues its work, the employees even have fun with all that in the corridors. In daily connection with the tragic news of their country of origin and of the close relations remained there, they relativize.
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Adam Baillie is one of the few English people with no family ties to Iran working for Iran International in London. This producer was there from the creation of the channel in 2017. He admires the way in which the editorial staff goes through this period. “I worry about them, explains the producer. It’s exciting to see the resilience and courage of the people who work here over these five years. It is very impressive.”
“I also think they are invigorated when they see the support they have here in the UK after these threats. They even feel encouraged when he sees that even the government has taken a stand on this.”
Adam Baillie, producer at Iran Internationalat franceinfo
Indeed, the British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, has summoned the most senior Iranian diplomat present in London – there is currently no ambassador. “Freedom of expression must be respected”the minister said on Monday and urged Tehran to “listen to the voice of his people”.