Jewish Chronicle Report on IRGC's Influence in 'Heart of Britain'; Jason Brodsky: IRGC Should Be Designated as 'Terrorist'

The Jewish Chronicle reported that senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and some radical supporters of the Islamic Republic are using a student organization based in London to promote extremism, anti-Semitism, and violence in Britain. According to the publication, speakers from the IRGC and plainclothes forces, some of whom have been sanctioned by the UK for 'human rights violations' and have participated in suppressing dissent against the Islamic Republic, have participated directly in promoting the regime in Britain for the first time. The Jewish Chronicle identified eight IRGC leaders who have spoken to students at the gathering place called 'Tawhid Center,' which is home to the 'Islamic Sciences Students Association' in the UK, since early 2020. Documents obtained by the publication show that Saeed Qasemi, an IRGC commander and a well-known leader of the plainclothes forces, denies the 'reality of the Holocaust' while boasting about 'training Al-Qaeda terrorists.' Qasemi also encouraged his audience to join the IRGC to launch an 'apocalyptic war' against Jews. Another commander named Hossein Yekta, also a member of the IRGC plainclothes forces, has spoken at this gathering, calling on students to embrace the Islamic Revolution, martyrdom, and act as part of 'sacred struggles.' Jason Brodsky, policy director at the United Against a Nuclear Iran organization, stated that designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization within the existing European sanctions framework could significantly help prevent the spread of anti-Semitic views and conspiracy theories by the Islamic Republic. The report indicates that the Tawhid Center is the latest 'battlefront' for the Islamic Republic to expand its influence in Britain, while the UK government ignores calls to list the IRGC as a terrorist group. The report also mentions that the IRGC's overseas activities continue in Britain, where the organization not only plots 'terrorist' schemes against 'British citizens' but also seeks to 'brainwash' youth and foster 'extremism and terrorism' on British soil using methods 'specific to ISIS and Al-Qaeda.' At the same time, these revelations have led prominent parliamentary representatives and security experts in Britain to call on the Conservative government to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group. The report highlights that while this situation raises serious concerns about the 'promotion of extremist ideologies' in Britain and representatives are calling for 'stronger actions' to address the issue, there are also 'resistances' within the 'UK Foreign Office' against this action. Brodsky noted that adding the IRGC to the list of terrorist organizations in Britain and the European Union would prohibit membership in this organization. He referred to 'concerning reports' of the radicalization of supporters of the Islamic Republic in Britain by IRGC commanders, stating that designating the IRGC as a terrorist entity within the existing European sanctions framework could significantly help prevent the spread of anti-Semitic views and conspiracy theories by the Islamic Republic. Brodsky also commented on the exploitation of Islamic Republic propagandists in the West, saying, 'Western countries must take action to suppress the infiltration operations of the Islamic Republic.' He noted that the Islamic Republic has a 'long history of exploiting charitable and religious institutions for recruitment, radicalization, and creating networks serving terrorism outside [of Iran].' This expert further pointed to the activities of the Al-Mustafa International University as an example in this regard, stating that the size of this university as a recruitment and espionage center for the Quds Force has doubled and is therefore under U.S. anti-terrorism sanctions. Previously, pro-Islamic Republic students in Britain were active after the victory of the February 1979 Revolution, but were expelled by the then British governments. For instance, in 1980, dozens of students were arrested, and deportation orders were issued for 13 of them from Britain. Later, in the late 1980s, 18 more were expelled on charges of 'Islamic beliefs' and supporting the 'fatwa' of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, regarding the 'murder of Salman Rushdie' and 'participating in religious ceremonies' in April 1989. Some of the expelled were students residing in Manchester. According to reports from that time in Iran, one of the students was imprisoned in Britain for several months before being released. In retaliation, the Islamic Republic expelled 18 British traders and employees residing in Iran at that time.