Nazanin Boniadi's Request to the UK Home Office: Support Opponents Instead of Harassing Them

Nazanin Boniadi stated that in the past week, border officials at London's Heathrow Airport have questioned her twice. She urged the UK Home Office: "Instead of harassing opponents, support them." Nazanin Boniadi, an actress and human rights activist opposing the Islamic Republic, wrote on the messaging platform 'X' on Wednesday, October 11, that she was "detained and questioned" twice by the "Counter-Terrorism Unit and border officers" at Heathrow Airport, while members of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Republic openly operate in the UK. She emphasized: "Instead of protecting us from a regime that actively targets its opponents on Western soil, the incompetence of the Metropolitan Police further weakens us. I urge the Home Office to support opponents instead of harassing them." This human rights activist did not provide further details about why she was stopped by police officials at Heathrow Airport. Nazanin Boniadi is one of the figures who has increased her activism following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the Islamic Republic's morality police and has engaged in discussions with Western officials about the human rights situation in Iran. In recent months, Nazanin Boniadi, on the sidelines of the 15th Oslo Freedom Forum, stated in an interview with Voice of America that she would continue to consult and engage with European politicians until diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic are severed. The announcement of her being stopped by border officers at London Airport comes just days after Hamas militants attacked Israel and the global reactions to it. According to Al Jazeera, one British citizen has been identified as dead and one as missing among the victims of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. Leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States announced on Monday that they support Israel against the recent "terrorist" attacks by Hamas. The statement from these countries emphasized: "We all recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians and support equal justice and freedom for both Israelis and Palestinians. But do not be mistaken: Hamas does not represent these aspirations and has brought nothing but terror and further bloodshed for the Palestinians."