Iran Censures Riot-Instigating Campaign by UK-Based Media


Iran Censures Riot-Instigating Campaign by UK-Based Media

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s embassy in London has made a complaint to Britain's broadcasting regulator about a media propaganda campaign by certain UK-based Persian-language media outlets encouraging protestors in Iran to resort to violence, a source announced.

In a letter of complaint to Ofcom (a government-appointed body that regulates all broadcasting media in the UK), Iran’s embassy has lambasted the anti-Iranian media campaign by UK-based Persian-language broadcasters covering the recent unrest in the country, IRNA quoted an informed source in the embassy as saying on Thursday.

The letter has touched on the blatant violation of the UK and international regulations by certain Persian-language media, denouncing the attempts to encourage protestors during the recent unrest in Iran to push for riots and armed clashes, the source added.

The letter also calls on Ofcom to take the necessary measures to prevent corrupt practices by those broadcasters in order to safeguard professional media activities.

Last week, a number of peaceful protests over economic problems broke out in several Iranian cities, but the gatherings turned violent when groups of participants, some of them armed, vandalized public property and launched attacks on police stations and government buildings.

Over a dozen people have been killed in the ensuing violence, according to media reports.

Officials say many rioters arrested in the unrest have been trained by the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) or had links with the Takfiri groups.

Following the unrest, people of Iran held several demonstrations across the country to condemn the violent riots and acts of vandalism, and voice support for the Islamic Republic’s Establishment.

Iranian officials maintain that people have the right to stage protests to express their opinions, as long as rallies comply with the legal conditions.

On his Twitter page, Iran’s Ambassador to Britain Hamid Baeidinejad said “everyone talked about the negative aspects of the street protests in Iran, but the positive aspect went unnoticed.”

“The fact that main stream of the Iranian people, despite their legitimate economic and social demands, did not support violent protests and riots across the streets, simply manifested that they believe such demands should be pursued through democratic means and institutions,” he said.

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