Man claims Iran issued ‘fatwa’ order to kill him after 72 days of hunger strike

A man who was hospitalised on day 72 of a hunger strike against a hard-line Islamic group in Iran claims a cleric in the regime has issued an order to kill him.

Vahid Beheshti, 46, a former Camberwell resident, is a British-Iranian journalist and human rights advocate.

Mr Beheshti has been on hunger strike outside the Foreign Affairs Office in King Charles Street, Whitehall, for the past 10 weeks, calling on the UK Government to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the list of terrorist organisations. 

On Tuesday he claims he was told by two of his trusted sources in Iran that “a cleric close to the IRGC” had called out a fatwa – a legal ruling in the Islamic Republic – against him to condone his killing. Clerics have high standing in Iran’s regime.

Mr Beheshti told the South London Press: “They think if they get rid of me they can get rid of this movement, but it won’t. There will always be people who will continue this fight.

“If they were going to publish the fatwa publicly I think they would do it to put fear in me and stop my activities. But it is not public. That makes me think this is serious. 

“Those responsible for carrying out such Fatwas call themselves the soldiers of hidden Imam.”

Mr Beheshti is also calling on the UK Government to make it a criminal offence to become a member of or support the actions of Iran’s IRGC. 

Throughout his hunger strike, Mr Beheshti has garnered support from hundreds of MPs who have taken time to visit him. 

More than 125 cross-party politicians signed an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, urging him to heed Mr Beheshti’s request to proscribe the IRGC. 

A rally from the London Eye to 10 Downing Street was also arranged on Saturday, April 29 in support of Mr Beheshti. Thousands attended, including some of the IRGC’s victims, their families and activists. 

On Thursday, Conservative MP for Harrow East, Bob Blackman, tweeted: “I now understand the Iranian regime has issued a fatwa against Vahid Beheshti. Now it is time for the UK Government to proscribe the IRGC terrorists once and for all.”

I now understand that the #Iranian regime has issued a #fatwa against @Vahid_Beheshti Now is time for #UK government to proscribe the evil #IRGCterrorists once & for all. Making membership illegal & also sequestrating their assets for allocation to #Iranian people.

— Bob Blackman (@BobBlackman) May 18, 2023

The IRGC has gained the attention of the world in recent months due to its brutal crackdown on protesters in Iran, led by women fighting for their human rights.

In December 2020, the IRGC kidnapped and executed Mr Beheshti’s close friend, Rouhollah Zam, accusing him of using a messaging app to stir up dissent.

The UK Government was preparing to formally declare the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in 2022, following reports of an Iranian hit squad targeting British-Iranian journalists in London.

Mr Behshti said: “I knew what I was getting myself into. 

“From one side I am so proud of our activity. This shows how effective it is, to make them chose this path. It’s a very serious thing.

“From the other side I have to deal with all these emotions around me. My family are trying to convince me to stop.”

Mr Beheshti was hospitalised due to chest pain and heart palpitations caused by the hunger strike.

He said: “That was the best moment. The doctor waited for my decision. They respected it.

“They didn’t touch me until I said, ‘OK I’ll break the strike’.”

Mr Beheshti was in hospital for 13 days. He has since been discharged and has been moved to a secure location.

Despite his condition, Mr Beheshti is adamant that he will continue his activism and said he will return to his protest outside the foreign office as soon as he is able to do so.

Pictured top: Vahid Beheshti in hospital (Picture: Vahid Beheshti)