Iran embassy targets expats to become martyrs and 'sacrifice lives for homeland'

The Iranian embassy in London has seemingly called its fellow countrymen in the United Kingdom to "sacrifice their lives for the Homeland’" in a disturbing call-to-arms broadcast to thousands. Iranian diplomats have called on its UK-based diaspora to "lay down [your] lives" for Iran in a new campaign that claims to "defend Iranian land". The call-to-arms, posted on the website for the Iranian consulate and via an official Iranian government-run Telegram channel, tells its fellow countrymen Iranians to register their interest with authorities to be involved in the martyrdom effort. It also specifically references recruiting "children" to the campaign. The brazen recruitment campaign has been dubbed as ‘appalling’ by UK shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, who has called on UK prime minister Keir Starmer, the police, and the Home Office to intervene. The message shared on the official Telegram channel for the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London, was shared on April 15 and calls on the Iranian disapora in the UK to "lay down [their] lives" in order to "defend Iranian land’. Those reading are then urged to register their interest via the consulate's Mikhak system; the Iranian government's official digital platform for consular services. The recruitment message, broadcast to thousands, reads in full: 'We inform our proud compatriots residing in the United Kingdom that, in order to objectively realise the national will and desire for the people's defence of Iran, the possibility of registering for the "Patriotism Campaign" has been provided ... so that a manifestation of empathy, loyalty, and national zeal can be displayed in an integrated format. "All brave and distinguished children of Iran are invited to participate consciously and register in this campaign, adding another golden page to the book of honours of this ancient land and demonstrating that their hearts are bound to the dignity and greatness of their homeland." It ends on a chilling verse taken from a famous sequence of patriotic poetry in Iran called the Shahnameh, or the Book of Kings, penned by legendary Persian poet Ferdowsi: "Let us all, one and all, give our lives in battle. Rather than surrender our country to the enemy." The Metro confirmed the final lines of the poem with St Andrews University senior lecturer in Persian Studies Saleed Talajooy. London-based campaign group United4Mahsa, founded in 2022 after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini after she was beaten while in the custody of the Iranian government, expressed concern over the embassy's message to its UK diaspora. Co-founder of the group Haleh Blake said: "The public announcement calling for martyrdom by the Embassy located in the UK displays the regime is running out of existing human resources and now using its public platforms to recruit killers and bad actors against its enemies, which includes the Iranian diaspora. "This should be yet another clear alarm to the Keir Starmer and the Labour government to not hold any negotiations with the Islamic Republic’s regime and proceed with the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the entity that is currently running the country." UK shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel added that it was "appalling that the Iranian embassy is trying to use Britain as a recruiting ground". She urged the UK PM to "summon the Iranian ambassador to explain himself", before adding that "the Home Secretary and the police must immediately investigate and intervene to ensure the British people are kept safe." A UK government spokesperson said: "We take the safety of the public incredibly seriously and investigate all allegations of threat thoroughly. We are clear-eyed about the threats posed by Iran, and our first priority is protecting British interests and British lives both in the UK and overseas. Work is well underway to bring forward proscription-like powers to clamp down on malign state activity." As well as being disseminated via Telegram, Iran's so-called Sacrificed Life Campaign appears on the Persian language version of the UK embassy website. The call to arms sits at the top of the home page in large banner and asks for expressions of interest to "sacrifice their lives for the Homeland". The English language version of the same website does purport to have information on the campaign, but the link does not work. A spokesperson for the Iranian Embassy said via a statement: "Iranians around the world have always cared deeply about their homeland and the protection of its territorial integrity, and they always will. "‘The 'Jan Fada' platform is intended for all Iranians who wish to support and defend their country, and it does not promote any form of hostility. Any claims or assumptions to the contrary are simply unfounded. Such biased judgments are made hastily and without proper understanding." The Mirror has approached the Home Office and the UK Counter Terrorism Policing unit for comment.