Iran International TV suspends broadcasting from Chiswick studios as Counter Terrorism police advise move to ‘more secure location’
Image above: security measures outside Chiswick Business Park where Iran International is based; photograph Matt Smith
TV channel continues broadcasting from US until new studios secured in UK
Persian-language TV channel Iran International based in Chiswick Business Park have been advised to move out of the site by Counter Terrorism police due to the level of threat against their journalists from the Iranian state and the “particularities” of Chiswick Business Park.
The TV channel suspended broadcasting from the site at the weekend. Since November the site has been heavily guarded, as MI5 discovered “severe and credible” death threats against them.
Minister for Security Tom Tugendhat told Parliament on Monday (20 February):
“Counter Terrorism Policing have advised Iran International to move to a more secure location in the United Kingdom. Until their studio is ready, they have chosen to continue their broadcasting from existing studios in the United States. I can assure the House that this measure will be temporary.
“Until then, I’ve asked officials to help find a temporary location for the UK operations, and we will make sure that Iran International’s permanent new studio in the United Kingdom is secure. I spoke to Counter Terrorism Policing this morning to confirm it.”
Chiswick Business Park is home to some of the world’s leading companies, many of which have their global, European and national headquarters here. Several thousand people work on the site where Discovery Channel, Swarovski, Starbucks, Singapore airlines, Pokemon, Pladis, Pernod Ricard, Paramount, IMG, Danone, and others are based.
Last summer the Richmond American University moved its students into the building next to the one which houses Iran Internatonal, and the park is open to the public to walk through, making it virtually impossible to make it secure, despite the “robust range” of security measures which have been in place since November 2022.
READ ALSO: Chiswick Business Park fortified against potential terror attacks
Image above: security measures outside Chiswick Business Park where Iran International is based; photograph Matt Smith
Numerous plots by the Iranian regime to kidnap or kill people in the UK foiled by security services
The clear implication from Tom Tugendhat’s statement was that Chsiwick Park was no longer safe with Iran International there. Since January 2022, The Metropolitan Police said 15 plots had been foiled to either kidnap or kill UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the Iranian regime.
Independent TV network Iran International has been one of the most prominent providers of news on the recent wave of anti-government protests in Iran. The company issued a statement at the weekend saying they had ‘reluctantly’ suspended operations in the UK because of threats against its Chiswick-based journalists.
The decision was made because of a “significant escalation in state-backed threats from Iran”.
“Threats had grown to the point that it was felt it was no longer possible to protect the channel’s staff” the company said.
A journalist working for the company has told The Chiswick Calendar newsroom staff are working from home in London while the channel continues to be broadcast from its offices in Washington DC.
Mr Tugenhat reiterated his commitment to Iran International and committed to securing a temporary location for the channel’s UK operations until a permanent studio has been built. Adam Baillie, one of Iran International’s senior studio producers, told The Chiswick Calendar:
“We are very heartened by the Minister’s statement – and the strength of his support and that of Parliament for press freedom and the rights of people to live and work freely in Britain without fear of a foreign state”
Image above: Home Office Minister for Security Tom Tugendhat speaking in the House of Commons on Monday (20 February); BBC Parliament
“The media must be free to work without fear”
Tom Tugendhat told parliament :
“In recent months the Iranian regime has publicly called for the capture or killing of those holding it to account. That includes very real and specific threats towards UK-based journalists working for Iran International, a prominent Persian-language news channel and their families.
“The Home Secretary and I absolutely condemn this outrageous violation of our sovereignty and the attempted violation of the human rights of those journalists…
“Let me be clear, freedom of press is at the heart of our freedoms. Iran’s efforts to silence Iran International are a direct attack on our freedoms an attempt to undermine our sovereignty. They will fail. Democracy is as much part, as much about journalists and civic activists as it is about politicians. The media must be free to work without fear.”
Image above: Shadow Secretary of State for Security Holly Lynch; BBC Parliament
Labour calls to proscribe military group which supports Iran regime from UK
Shadow Secretary of State for Security Holly Lynch responded to Mr Tugendhat’s statement saying the UK’s policing, security services and the British public would not tolerate intimidation from Iran, but criticised the Government’s lack of action on proscribing groups sympathetic to the Iranian regime in the UK. Ms Lynch said:
“I have met with representatives from Iran International, as the minister has said, I know they have spoken highly of the UK counter-terrorism and our security services, so I want to put my thanks them, on the record, for the work they undertake every day.
“However I have asked the Government five times in this chamber since October, why are we not going further to deploy sanctions and proscription powers against those acting on behalf of Iran?”
“In response to my question at the last Home Office questions earlier this month, the Minister spoke of his desire to see the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) proscribed. So why are they not? Either using existing terrorism powers or or new state threats equivalent, he hasn’t mentioned it at all in his statement today.
“That means the IRGC are still able to organise and establish support here in the UK, we have to put a stop to that. There are people appointed to posts here in the UK that are representatives of the Supreme Leader himself, why are they still here?”
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Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar
See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features
Support The Chiswick Calendar
The Chiswick Calendar CIC is a community resource. Please support us by buying us the equivalent of a monthly cup of coffee (or more, if you insist). Click here to support us.We publish a weekly newsletter and update the website with local news and information daily. We are editorially independent.
To subscribe to the weekly newsletter, go here.
