VOICE OF THE JEWISH NEWS: Nazanin case loomed large in failure to proscribe IRGC
This week's Jewish News editorial reflects on the motivation behind the UK government's failure to fully outlaw Iran's despotic Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Richard Ferrer has been editor of Jewish News since 2009. As one of Britain's leading Jewish voices he writes for The Times, Independent, New Statesman and many other titles. Richard previously worked at the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, edited the Boston Jewish Advocate and created the Channel 4 TV series Jewish Mum Of The Year.
The government this week again rejected calls from communal groups and MPs across all parties to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group, instead choosing simply to widen its sanctions net.
Speaking to Jewish News in Tel Aviv, Iranian-born Meir Javendanfar, senior research fellow for the Institute for Policy and Strategy at the Lauder School of Government in Israel, suggested the decision was motivated by the tragic case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe – the Iranian-British dual citizen unjustly imprisoned by Iran for six years.
The government, he claims, is concerned for the future safety of 40,000 Iranian nationals living in the UK, most of whom loathe the Tehran regime but return to visit family.
Yet while repercussion fears are valid, they should not be allowed to overshadow the urgent need to finally address the threat. The IRGC has a history of engaging in destabilising activities across the Middle East, supporting proxy militias and perpetuating terrorism.
This year alone it has targeted Israeli civilians in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. It has played a significant role in fuelling conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq – and, of course, arms Hezbollah in Lebanon to the teeth with the latest weaponry. Estimates suggest Hezbollah now has capacity to fire up to 1,500 rockets into Israel in 24 hours.
While the safety of Iranian nationals in the UK is undoubtedly important, refusing to proscribe the IRGC sends a clear signal that the UK is unwilling to confront a clear and present threat responsible for international terrorism.
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