Austrian Citizen Sentenced for Complicity in Islamic Republic's 'Terrorist Plot' in London

An Austrian citizen born in Chechnya, who was found guilty in Britain of espionage for a group suspected of planning an attack on a Persian-language television network in London, was sentenced on Friday, December 22, 2023, to three and a half years in prison. On Wednesday, the court convicted Mohammad Hossein Dovtayev of 'hostile espionage' against the Iran International television network and collecting information that could be used in a terrorist attack. Dovtayev had traveled from Austria to London in February 2023, near the office of this television network. According to the prosecutor, the 31-year-old Dovtayev went to the vicinity of the network's office to film the existing security measures following the network's reports on the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police and the onset of nationwide protests in Iran. Prosecutor Nicholas de la Poer stated last week in the Old Bailey court in London that the Iranian Minister of Intelligence had declared this television network a terrorist organization, adding that even before Dovtayev, others had been monitoring this network. Dovtayev denied the charge of 'attempting to collect useful information' for individuals who were 'likely' preparing or committing a terrorist act against this Persian-language network, claiming he had been 'duped.' He presented evidence claiming that he and his father were defrauded of about 20,000 euros and were told that the fraudsters could be found in a commercial building in West London, unaware that this building was the office of the news outlet. Paul Kleher, Dovtayev's lawyer, referred to the possibility that his client had been deceived, deeming the claim that the Iranian government intended to carry out a terrorist attack against a news organization in Britain as 'far-fetched.' However, Judge Richard Marks stated that based on the evidence and legal standards, he was convinced that 'those involved in this plot' intended to attack this Persian-language network. In response to his lawyer's questions, Dovtayev denied any affiliation or support from the Islamic Republic. The jury found Dovtayev guilty at the end of the trial. An Austrian citizen of Chechen descent was accused of a terrorist conspiracy for the Islamic Republic, and Britain summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires: 'We will not tolerate threats.'