Demonstrations outside Iranian embassy as regime’s repression escalates
The Met Police has stepped up its presence outside London’s Iranian embassy following days of heated protests outside the venue.
The Iranian embassy, a stone’s throw away from Imperial’s South Kensington campus, has been an epicentre for demonstrations of solidarity with the people of Iran, who have faced violent crackdowns on anti-government protests across the country.
Multiple sources have now reported a death toll of 2,000 protesters in Iran after nation-wide demonstrations erupted on 28 December.
On Saturday 10th January, a man was filmed climbing onto the South Kensington embassy’s balcony and ripping down the Iranian flag, waving the pre-Islamic revolution “lion and sun” flag favoured by opposition groups in the country.
Following this incident, Iranian state media reported that the country’s foreign ministry had summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to condemn the events that unfolded at the venue.
The Met Police shared on X that two arrests had been made on the day for aggravated trespass and assault on an emergency worker.
Demonstrations outside the embassy continued Sunday 11th January, eventually progressing from South Kensington to Whitehall, where protesters called on the UK government to take actions such as proscribing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been a vocal proponent of the IRGC’s proscription and was present at continued protests outside the embassy on Monday 12 January.
On Thursday 15th January, a small group of people gathered once more in front of the embassy under the rain and the surveillance and Met officers. Officers stationed outside the embassy told Felix they were expecting large crowds to gather again on Sunday 18th January.
A protester interviewed by Felix talked about the ongoing “uprising” in Iran, saying, “We, the Iranians, located in London want to be their voice, because the UK and other European countries are still negotiating with [the Iranian] regime.”
Iran security forces have been shooting at crowds with machine guns and sniper rifles, while the country’s judiciary has threatened to execute suspects detained in the protests. Internet access was cut by the authorities on January 8th.
“I could only talk with my sister in Iran yesterday for one minute, and she mentioned that in front of [her] eyes, they killed a 12-year-old boy.
“They are killing our people,” the protestor added tearfully, “we are worried about everyone, not only our family, but every young, brave person in the street. They just want freedom; they just want our country back.”
Regarding embassy protests, Imperial’s Security and Community Safety team are in contact with the police and other local institutions. Check out Imperial's Alerts page here.
