Iran protests to Britain over release of terrorist

10 October 2008

London-Iran on Friday protested to Britain against release of a terrorist who was involved in the 1980 attack on the Iranian Embassy in London, saying that the release will affect relations between the two countries.

"Iran seriously calls on the British government to revise its decision to release this terrorist and reminds governments of their commitment to the war on terror," Iran's Embassy said in a statement.

The statement that the release of Fowzi Badavinejad, who was an accomplice in occupying the embassy and killing two diplomats in 1980, has created a deep concern for Iranians living in the United Kingdom.

Badavinejad is one of six hostage-takers who laid siege on Iran's Embassy in London in May 1980. The terrorists took 26 people hostage and wounded several others leading to the death of two diplomats.

"The release of this terrorist is a concern for the Iranian public opinion as it follows a recent terrorist attack on the Iranian Embassy in London," it said.

Earlier a British official told IRNA that it would not give refugee status to convicted terrorists and "Badavinejad instead is being given only temporary leave to remain in the UK for six months, when his status will be reviewed."

"Our aim is to deport people as quickly as possible but the law requires us to first obtain assurances that the person being returned will not face certain death. In the meantime a person would be put on extremely tight reporting restrictions," he said.

"The British government's decision to release Badavinejad will affect relations between the two countries."

Badavinejad was jailed for life in 1981. His trial was dramatically halted after a few days of starting when he suddenly changed his plea to guilty from charges of conspiracy to murder, false imprisonment, firearm possession and two accounts of manslaughter.