London becoming ‘safe refuge for Iranian regime proponents', MPs fear

Parliament hears of 'substantial rumours' that families of Iran's elite are applying for UK passports to flee to British capital

Foreign Office minister Gillian Keegan said she would investigate the claims. PA

The UK Foreign Office has pledged to investigate claims that family members of Iran’s leaders are applying for British passports to seek refuge in London, as protests continue in their country.

Iranians have taken to the streets to protest against the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, in Tehran on September 16. She had detained by the morality police three days earlier for wearing her hijab “improperly”.

Conservative MP Bob Stewart told the House of Commons on Tuesday that he had heard “substantial rumours” that Iranian elites were attempting to make London “a place of safe refuge” and were applying for British passports.

“Could I ask the minister to assure the House that London doesn’t become a place of safe refuge for the Iranian regime proponents?” the MP for Beckenham told the Commons.

“Can she assure me for instance that money from Iran funding platforms which are pro-Iranian in this country are closely looked at?

“And in particular can she assure me that there is quite a substantial rumour that families of the leaders in Iran are getting British passports, which to me is iniquitous.”

Foreign Office minister Gillian Keegan told Mr Stewart that she would investigate the issues he had raised.

“Obviously, we have our own rule of law here in the UK, but in relation to the rumours he has heard about passports, I haven’t heard those, but I will certainly look into that and write to him,” Ms Keegan said.

Conservative MP Bob Blackman earlier questioned whether the UK should recall its ambassador from Tehran and consider closing its embassy.

Mahsa Amini protests in Iran and around the world – in pictures

Demonstrators chant slogans during the March of Solidarity for Iran in Washington. AFP

Another group of demonstrators at the march. AFP

A protest in support of Iranian women in Barcelona. Reuters

Iranian citizens and locals joined in the Barcelona protest. Reuters

People attend a demonstration in solidarity with Mahsa Amini and other Iranian women in Castello Square, Turin. EPA

A person places a candle during the demonstration in Turin. EPA

A protester holds a pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flag during a demonstration in Brussels in support of the Iranians fighting for their freedom. AFP

A protester wearing a top with a logo that reads 'No to an Islamic state" as she takes part in a rally in support of the Iranian people, in Brussels. AFP

People wave the Shah-era Iranian flag during a protest in Paris. AFP

A woman shows her true colours in the protest against the Iranian government, in Paris. AFP

A woman holds a flag, as people protest against the Iranian regime outside Iran's embassy in central London. Reuters

Supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) carry placards and wave party flags in Beirut, during a protest against the death of Ms Amini. EPA

People demonstrate against the Iranian government outside the Houses of Parliament in London following the death of Amini. Reuters

A mural in Paris depicts women cutting their hair to show support for Iranian protesters. AP

People take part in a rally against the Iranian government in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday. AP

Protesters take to the streets of Tehran. EPA

Iranian protesters run after clashing with with police. EPA

A protester shaves their head outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Reuters

Iranians living in Athens hold a protest in solidarity. AFP

People take part in a rally in The Hague. AFP

A woman cuts her hair during a demonstration in Santiago, Chile, by feminist groups and Iranian migrants in support of Iranian women following the death of Amini. AFP

Members of feminist groups and Iranian migrants during the protests in Santiago. AFP

Iranian activists shout slogans during a protest against the government in Tehran, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. EPA

A protester holds a painted portrait of Mahsa Amini in Berlin, Germany. EPA

A protester shows red paint on her face, resembling blood splatters and bloody handprints next to the national Iranian emblem, during a rally in Berlin. EPA

Iranian protesters shout slogan during a protest in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA

A woman holds a sign during a protest against the Iranian government, in front of the country's embassy in Madrid, Spain. The protests were triggered by the death of a young Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody. Reuters

A woman cuts her hair during the protest in front of the Iranian embassy in Madrid. Reuters

Israelis show their support for women in Iran as they hold up placards of Amini during a protest in Jerusalem. EPA

Amini, 22, was arrested in Tehran on September 13, 2022, by the morality police. She fell into a coma while in police custody and was declared dead on September 16. EPA

People walk by graffiti in support of the protests triggered by Amini's death, in Jerusalem. EPA

A protest in Nantes, western France, after the death of Amini in Iranian police custody. AFP

Women gather for a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain. AFP

Demonstrators in Nantes. Amini's death has sparked a global protest movement. AFP

Women protest outside the town hall in in Montpellier, southern France. AFP

A woman at a protest in Catalunya Square, Barcelona. Reuters

Campaigners and football fans protest at a Champions League match between Porto and Bayer Leverkusen at the Dragao stadium in Portugal. EPA

People hold placards during a demonstration in solidarity with the Iranian people near the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. EPA

An Iranian woman living in Turkey with 'Freedom' written on her forehead takes part in a protest near the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. Reuters

In Barcelona, protesters take part in a demonstration in support of Iranian women. AFP

A Lebanese activist takes part in a protest in Beirut, triggered by the death of Amini, 22. AP

A Turkish protester takes off her head scarf while giving a performance in Instanbul during a protest against Iran over Amini's death. Getty

A woman in Istanbul cuts her hair during a protest against Iran. Getty

A Lebanese activist holds a poster depicting Amini during a protest in Beirut organised by feminist groups in support of women protesters in Iran. EPA

Demonstrators in Los Angeles, California, hold the Iranian flag during a protest against the government in Tehran. AFP

Demonstrators hold placards in Mexico City during a protest against Iran. Reuters

People demonstrate in Montreal, Canada, during a protest triggered by Amini's death. AFP

Iranian Americans participate in a rally in central Los Angeles, in solidarity with women in Iran. AP

Demonstrators march during a protest in Los Angeles, California. AFP

A woman with the colours of the Iranian flag painted on her face participates in a rally as thousands demonstrate in support of Iranian women in Los Angeles. EPA

Australians protest over Amini's death in Melbourne. EPA

Police block protesters from entering Iran's embassy in Oslo, Norway. EPA

Demonstrators in front of the European headquarters of the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, during a rally against Iran. EPA

A candlelight vigil for Amini in Los Angeles. AFP

Afghan women hold placards as they take part in a protest in front of the Iranian embassy in Kabul. AFP

Protestors take part in a rally outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. AFP

An Iranian woman shows a lock of hair she cut off during a protest outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. EPA

Demonstrators outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. Getty

Iranian Americans rally on Capitol Hill in Washington to show support for protesters in Iran. AFP

Protesters on Capitol Hill hold a sign condemning the crackdown by Tehran. AFP

German demonstrators gather in Berlin after the death of Amini in Iranian police custody. AP

A protester cries during a rally in Berlin. Reuters

A demonstration in Madrid, Spain. Thousands have gathered in cities across Europe to support protests in Iran. AP

Demonstrators gather outside the Iranian embassy in Madrid. Reuters

People take part in a protest in Lausanne, Switzerland. EPA

Protesters hold signs featuring images of Amini during the protest in the western Swiss city. EPA

Demonstrators in front of the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. EPA

An activist outside the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a sign that reads 'Justice for Mahsa Amini'. AFP

A demonstration against violence in Iran is held in Quito, Ecuador. The Iranian community in Ecuador protested outside the Iranian embassy. EPA

Protesters at a demonstration outside the Iranian embassy in Quito, Ecuador. EPA

“We must issue the most strongest condemnation of these killings and mass arrests,” the MP for Harrow East said.

“In order to do so, is it not right that we recall our ambassador from Tehran, and even consider closing our embassy in Iran, to demonstrate to Iran this is unacceptable?”

Mr Blackman told MPs he had been placed under sanctions by Iran, and said it was time to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

“We condemn the Iranian authorities. Obviously, we’ve taken very strong action,” Ms Keegan said.

“We condemn the crackdown on protesters, journalists and internet freedom, and the use of violence in response to the expression of fundamental rights by women or any other members of Iranian society is wholly unjustifiable.

“We will continue to work, including with our international partners, to explore all options for addressing Iran’s human rights violations.

“We will never be able to comment on possible future actions or sanctions or designations.”

Alternative Mahsa Amini protests – in pictures

Swedish-Iranian director Ali Abbasi shows his support for the protests against Iran as he attends the UK premiere of his film, 'Holy Spider', at the 66th BFI London Film Festival. The protests were sparked by the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody in Iran. Getty

A mural in Milan, Italy, shows Marge Simpson, a character in the animated sitcom 'The Simpsons', cutting her hair in protest over the death of Amini. EPA

Actress Juliette Binoche cuts her hair as a part of the protest against Iran. Reuters

Protester hold up placards in Rome as they denounce the Iranian government after Amini's death. AFP

Actress Marion Cotillard cuts her hair as a part of the protests. Reuters

People hold up a placard bearing a picture of Amini during a demonstration in solidarity with the Iranian people, near the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. EPA

Iranian-born actress Nazanin Boniadi addresses demonstrators at a rally held in support of Iranian women, outside City Hall in Los Angeles, California. Reuters

An Iranian woman living in Turkey takes part in a protest near the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters

A demonstrator holds cut hair during a protest near the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. Reuters

Protesters hold up placards in Rome during a demonstration in solidarity with Iranian women. AFP

Other MPs joined calls to proscribe the IRCG.

“What we are seeing in Iran is state industrialised femicide. And abroad we are seeing them being increasingly aggressive in support of terrorist states and terrorist organisations,” said Conservative chair of the foreign affairs committee Alicia Kearns.

“So, will we finally act and sanction Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, who are sending surface-to-surface missiles to Russia, they are supporting proxies across the region, and they are spreading harmful radicalising narratives online?”

Shadow Foreign Office minister Bambos Charalambous said the UK should lead calls for the UN Human Rights Council to “urgently establish an international investigative and accountability mechanism” to analyse evidence of the most serious crimes in Iran.

“Britain must support all those who stand up for basic freedoms, freedom of conscience and religion and freedom to live one’s life as one chooses,” he said.

Iran's Supreme Leader calls anti-government protesters 'agents of the enemy' – video

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokeswoman Layla Moran appealed for ministers to give extra funding to BBC Persian, the Farsi broadcast station that is a subsidiary of the BBC World Service.

She said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has seen the BBC given extra money to ensure that the World Service could broadcast in Ukrainian and Russian. “Is there any chance that could also happen for BBC Persian, which faces the chop?” Ms Moran asked.

Ms Keegan told the Commons she was “shortly meeting” with the BBC World Service and would discuss BBC Persian “further with them”.

The BBC has proposed to end its Farsi radio service, but BBC News Persian is not closing, and will continue online and on TV.