Organizations, Entities and Figures React to Reports of Iran’s Attempt to Abduct Masih Alinejad
A number of organizations, individuals and institutions active in the field of freedom of expression, human rights and political affairs have reacted to and condemned reports of a plot by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence to abduct Masih Alinejad from American soil and transfer her to Iran.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday, July 14: “We are concerned about hearing this news.”
The committee states that “the alleged Iranian government’s plan to surveil and plot the abduction of Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist, is both appalling and indicative of the danger that exiled journalists face, including on United States soil.”
The Alliance Against Iran’s Nuclear Program, which includes groups opposed to the JCPOA, issued a statement saying: “We commend the action of the U.S. Federal Police, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice in arresting and prosecuting an Iranian intelligence cell in the United States that had plotted to abduct Masih Alinejad and return her to Iran.”
The National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI) also issued a statement saying: “We are grateful that Masih Alinejad was not harmed, and we continue our solidarity with her and support for her civil activities for human rights and secular democracy in Iran.”
The “National Council of Resistance of Iran” also strongly condemned this plot to abduct Masih Alinejad in a statement, saying that over the past four decades, in addition to torture, execution and mass murder of political prisoners, “Iran’s fascistic theocracy” has consistently used terrorism, kidnapping and hostage-taking as a tool against opponents.
The National Council of Iranian Americans (NCIA), a group supporting the JCPOA, said in a Twitter message: “Reports of a plot by Iranian officials to abduct an Iranian-American activist are concerning and represent a continuation of despotic threats against critics abroad.”
Reaction of Prince Reza Pahlavi
Prince Reza Pahlavi also tweeted that the Islamic Republic has spent 42 years attempting to kidnap, intimidate, extort and assassinate its opponents. He said that fortunately Masih Alinejad and other targets of the regime in the recent plot remain alive and safe, but many opponents, activists and journalists continue to be systematically targeted.
Reza Pahlavi views the lifting of sanctions against Iran as complicity and abetment in the Islamic Republic’s criminal campaign against activists and a dagger in the back of those fighting the totalitarian dictatorship.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan and the U.S. Department of Justice, by issuing statements announcing that Iranian intelligence services were planning to abduct a journalist and human rights activist from New York City and intended to bring her to Iran, disclosed the names of individuals who were members of this network affiliated with the Iranian government and participated in this kidnapping operation.
Source: Voice of America
