LFI chair urges tougher action by UK government on Iran after vile executions
Chair Steve McCabe has written to foreign secretary James Cleverly warning current measures taken by the UK, US and EU against the regime 'are having little to no impact on the regime'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Labour Friends of Israel are urging the UK government to take tougher action on Iran following the execution of two pro-democracy activists
The group’s chair Steve McCabe has written to foreign secretary James Cleverly urging the UK government to expel Iran’s Chargé d’Affaires in London and to downgrade diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic.
He also repeated calls for the UK to proscribe Tehran’s ideological army, and widen sanctions on the regime’s executioners and propagandists.
In his letter to Cleverly, McCabe condemns Tehran’s “brutal and violent effort to suppress the legitimate protests” which began in September and in which nearly 500 people – including 68 children – have died at the hands of the security forces.
He also condemns the barbaric execution of two protesters – Majidreza Rahnavard and Mohsen Shekariin – in recent days and warns that “many more” protesters are now in danger.
“As usual, the regime is deploying torture and hasty trials to judicially murder those who oppose it and intimidate other protesters,” he suggests.
McCabe welcomes the steps already taken by Britain, the US and European Union against the regime, but urges tougher action.
“It is clear that these measures are having little to no impact on the regime,” he writes.
“We must now take urgent action – targeted at all those engaged in the perpetration of violence against the Iranian people – in order to both deter and punish the regime and to show our solidarity with the protesters.”
On Monday six more UK parliamentarians – including Tory immigration minister Robert Jenrick, and former Labour shadow middle east minister Wayne David – were placed on the Iranian regime’s sanctions list.
MP David told Jewish News he had “strongly supported the concern Israel has put out about the very real threat Iran poses and will continue to do so.”
He added:“They can put us on lists, make threats all they like, but nevertheless we will continue to support the democratic opposition against what is happening in Iran.”
Outlining the five immediate steps the government should take McCabe also calls for the recall of the UK ambassador to Iran.
He calls for the proscriptionof the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corpsand of the widening of the list of those sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act.
The Labour MP also calls for the UK to draw up a list of regime oligarchs and freeze any financial assets they have in the UK, adding they and their families should also be refused entry to the UK.
McCabe urges a crackdown on the activities of the network of state “soft power” organisations operating in the Middle East, Europe and the UK.
He writes:“Alongside other parliamentarians, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter urgently with you and hear more about the steps you intend to take to show our steadfast opposition to the regime’s efforts to prevent the Iranian people’s protests for the human rights they have long been denied.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
