Journalist Wayne Madsen has withdrawn his allegation that the British Ahwazi Friendship Society (BAFS) is a front for British intelligence following an email exchange with BAFS Chairman Daniel Brett.
On 12 January, the Wayne Madsen Report (WMR) published an article that alleged that three explosions near Mohammara/Khorramshahr were attacks by members of the Ahwazi Arab ethnic group sponsored by British intelligence. It quoted unnamed intelligence sources in support of its claims. Mr Brett emailed the website, pointing out that the explosions were related to landmine clearance operations, as confirmed in the Iranian media and by Iranian officials . He also stated that while the Iranians have blamed British intelligence for ethnic unrest and bomb attacks by Ahwazi Arabs, the Iranian government has failed to provide any proof to support its allegations.
WMR subsequently published Mr Brett's letter, along with a rebuttal in defence of its claims. The website stated that BAFS was an "obvious British intelligence operation." It also referred to Mr Brett's previous involvement in the Fabian Society, which was described as "the vanguard for the neo-imperialistic 'New Labor' policies of Tony Blair." Additionally, it called into question the source of BAFS funding, claiming that the organisation was a tool of "neocon grand conspirators."
Following a subsequent exchange of correspondence between Mr Madsen and Mr Brett, the WMR website stated that it was "satisfied that the Ahwazi exile movement is not in total collusion with U.S. and British intelligence in fomenting attacks in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran."
Mr Brett gave Mr Madsen assurances that BAFS had not had contact with a research company associated with the US Marines Corps, that it is not in contact with the Mujahideen-e Khalq Organisation (MKO), that it is not in contact with any military intelligence organisation of any country and that it rejects violence as a means to advancing the minority rights agenda in Iran. BAFS said that it relies only on donations from private individuals from within the Ahwazi diaspora and receives no funds from non-governmental organisations or governments.
In his email, Mr Brett said that "we oppose any invasion of Iran," adding that "we do not believe that democracy can be imposed by force from outside Iran." He stressed that "our campaigns to stop the execution of Ahwazi opposition activists have attracted support from across the political spectrum in the UK, including the backing of senior members of the progressive left."
Following the WMR's retraction of its allegations against Mr Brett and against BAFS, Mr Brett said: "We are grateful that Mr Madsen has looked at the evidence and has the courage to make a public statement that his initial assessment of our organisation was wrong. While he may still have suspicions about US and British policies in the Middle East, he acknowledges that BAFS is independent of these governments' foreign policy agenda. BAFS hopes that Mr Madsen will speak directly to members of the Ahwazi opposition in exile to increase his knowledge of the region's political climate."
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keywords: ahvaz ahwaz ahwazi arabistan khuzestan khuzistan khuzestani arab arabistan iran iranian human rights security oil news ahmadinejad ethnic cleansing
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