Saeed Shahabi
Encyclopedia
Saeed Shahabi, Saeeid Shahabi, Said Shehabi, (b. Bahrain 1954) is a London-based political activist, journalist, commentator and member of the Bahrain Freedom Movement
Shahabi earned his BSc and PhD (in Control Engineering) from the City University London.
According to the London-based, Centre for the Study of Terrorism, of which he is Trustee, Shahabi edited the London-based Pan-Arabic weekly Al Aalam from 1983-1999 and in addition to being Chairman of the Gulf Cultural Club, serves as a trustee of two Muslim charities located in London, the Dar Al-Hekma Trust and the Abrar Islamic Foundation, and writes "regularly" for Al-Quds and The Muslim News
.
The BBC describes Shahabi as "leader of a Bahraini opposition group in London."
Allegations of Links to Iran
=
Shahabi is reported to be close to elements of the Iranian government, with a senior Whitehall
source saying that there were “concerns” around Shahabi and that he was “of interest”. British MP Patrick Mercer
said, “this man’s connections with Iran are extremely concerning and embarrassing to those who have praised him as a credible voice on Bahrain”. Shahabi has met, amongst others, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
and is very close to Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury
, who has hosted meetings of the Bahrain Freedom Movement
at the House of Lords
.
The investigation in the Evening Standard
revealed that Shahabi made speeches in support of the Iranian Revolution
, calling it a “divine gift”, backed Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and rented his business offices from the government of Iran
.
Shahabi has refuted these allegations, saying that all the evidence is circumstantial and “you will never be able to link me directly to the Iranian regime”.
In September 2011 Shahabi praised Iran’s Islamic Revolution for instigating a period of “Islamic Awakening”, stating that nations “have no other way but to resort to Islamic ideology”. Shahabi is often used by Iranian channels such as Press TV
to comment on the political situation in Bahrain and sometimes travels to Iran for interviews.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
Bahrain Freedom Movement is a London based Bahraini opposition group which has its headquarters in a north London mosque...
Shahabi earned his BSc and PhD (in Control Engineering) from the City University London.
According to the London-based, Centre for the Study of Terrorism, of which he is Trustee, Shahabi edited the London-based Pan-Arabic weekly Al Aalam from 1983-1999 and in addition to being Chairman of the Gulf Cultural Club, serves as a trustee of two Muslim charities located in London, the Dar Al-Hekma Trust and the Abrar Islamic Foundation, and writes "regularly" for Al-Quds and The Muslim News
The Muslim News
The Muslim News describes itself as, "The only independent monthly Muslim newspaper in the UK, is neither backed by any country nor by any organisation or party."...
.
The BBC describes Shahabi as "leader of a Bahraini opposition group in London."
Allegations of Links to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
=
Shahabi is reported to be close to elements of the Iranian government, with a senior Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
source saying that there were “concerns” around Shahabi and that he was “of interest”. British MP Patrick Mercer
Patrick Mercer
Patrick John Mercer OBE is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom, representing the constituency of Newark in Parliament. He is a frequent commentator on defence and security issues having served as infantry officer in the British Army and held the position of Shadow Minister for...
said, “this man’s connections with Iran are extremely concerning and embarrassing to those who have praised him as a credible voice on Bahrain”. Shahabi has met, amongst others, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
and is very close to Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury
Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury
Eric Reginald Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury, PC is an English politician. A Liberal Member of Parliament from 1962 to 1970, he succeeded as Baron Avebury in 1971...
, who has hosted meetings of the Bahrain Freedom Movement
Bahrain Freedom Movement
Bahrain Freedom Movement is a London based Bahraini opposition group which has its headquarters in a north London mosque...
at the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
The investigation in the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
revealed that Shahabi made speeches in support of the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, calling it a “divine gift”, backed Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and rented his business offices from the government of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Shahabi has refuted these allegations, saying that all the evidence is circumstantial and “you will never be able to link me directly to the Iranian regime”.
In September 2011 Shahabi praised Iran’s Islamic Revolution for instigating a period of “Islamic Awakening”, stating that nations “have no other way but to resort to Islamic ideology”. Shahabi is often used by Iranian channels such as Press TV
Press TV
Press TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
to comment on the political situation in Bahrain and sometimes travels to Iran for interviews.