Saeed al-Shehabi
Saeed Shahabi, Saeeid Shahabi, Said Shehabi, (b. Bahrain 1954) is a London-based political activist, journalist, commentator and member of the Bahrain Freedom Movement [1] [1][2][3]
Shahabi earned his BSc and PhD (in Control Engineering) from the City University London.[4]
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.[4]
The BBC describes Shahabi as "leader of a Bahraini opposition group in London."[5]
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”. [6] 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. [7]
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.[6] 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”. [6]
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”.[8] 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.[9]
References
- ^ a b Mahdi Amirisefat [1] 'Bahraini rulers importing extremism', Feb. 15, 2009, Press TV.
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3] "'Human tragedy unfolding in Bahrain", April 5, 2011, Press TV.
- ^ a b Centre for the Study of Terrorism [4]
- ^ [5] "Bahrain's soldiers 'don't want to continue to kill anybody'", March 17, 2011, BBC.
- ^ a b c Tom Harper "Files link activist to Iran regime", London Evening Standard, 30 August 2011
- ^ Eric Avebury "Francis Story The Search for the Self", Eric Avebury, 23 August 2011
- ^ FARS Agency "Bahraini Political Activist Praises Iranian Revolution for Sparking Islamic Awakening", FARS Agency, 24 Sept 2011
- ^ AhlulBayt News Agency "Saudi troops target women in Bahrain", AhlulBayt News Agency, 26 Sept 2011