1000 баксов за месяц: MEF Dispatch: Professors and the 'Resistance'; Princeton Finally Ousts Islamic Republic Operative; Iran's U.K. Outposts

понедельник, 18 августа 2025 г.

Profs and the 'Resistance'; Islamic Republic Apologist Leaves Princeton; Iran's U.K. Outposts

By Winfield Myers ● Aug 18, 2025

Smart Brevity^® count: 7.5 mins...1949 words

In Part 1 of a two-part series, A.J. Caschetta details how American academics escalated their support for the Palestinian "resistance" from rhetorical to material via the "Palestine & Praxis" model. After years of reporting on efforts to convince Princeton to part ways with former Iranian ambassador and permanent regime apologist Seyed Hossein Mousavian, Benjamin Weinthal and Isabel Vincent filed an exclusive story on Mousavian's recent departure. Questions linger, but we say good riddance.

In two articles, Potkin Azarmehr exposes the growing list of Iranian outposts in the United Kingdom. Benjamin Weinthal reports that Germany refuses to protect Iranian dissidents from regime thugs, while Mardo Soghom details the Iranian opposition's plans for a post-Islamic Republic Iran should a popular uprising succeed in ousting the theocracy from power.

Radical U – Part 1: How Professors Became Architects of the Academic Palestinian Resistance

From Their Support for the Boycott Divest Sanction (BDS) Movement, to Hosting Terrorists, to Accepting Terrorist Tainted Funding, Some of the Nation's Top Universities Have Become Part of the Palestin...

By: A.J. Caschetta

In recent years, American academics have crossed a line, transforming from passive supporters to active promoters of the Palestinian "resistance."

Why it matters: The transformation of academia into a mouthpiece for anti-Israel propaganda is alarming.

Professors are adopting Hamas slogans, effectively serving as agents of radical ideologies.
Equating airline hijacking and taking hostages with a legitimate career—"resistance work"—is the kind of normalizing violence that "Scholars for Palestinian Freedom" engage in as they "center decolonization."

Driving the news: The 2021 Hamas War was a turning point, as academics openly embraced and disseminated pro-Hamas rhetoric.

The "Palestine & Praxis" movement epitomizes this dangerous shift, with scholars now participating actively in anti-Israel activities.

What's next: Scholars are not just theorizing—they're demanding direct action against Israel, including boycotts and sanctions.

This aggressive activism threatens to further polarize and radicalize university campuses, undermining their educational mission.

The backdrop: Once centers of free thought, universities are now breeding grounds for antisemitic vitriol.

With their Palestine & Praxis movement, many academics inched up to the line dividing rhetorical advocacy and violence, but they stopped short of crossing that line. Their students did not.

To read the full article, click here.

Controversial Princeton Prof with Strong Iran Ties Steps Down After Campaign to Remove Him

Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a Middle East security and nuclear policy specialist, retired from his position after 15 years as the head of the school's Program on Science and Global Security on June 1, ac...

By: Benjamin Weinthal and Isabel Vincent

Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a Princeton professor with strong ties to the Iranian regime, has finally stepped down quietly, following a fervent campaign by dissidents for his removal.

Why it matters: Mousavian's tenure at Princeton has been marred by his involvement in Iran's nuclear and chemical programs and his controversial past as Iran's ambassador to Germany.

During his ambassadorship, dissidents were murdered in Berlin, a period marked by allegations of Iran's leadership orchestrating these assassinations.
During a 1997 trial in Germany, a German newspaper reported that former Iranian spy Abolghasem Mesbahi said under oath, "Mousavian was involved in most of the crimes that took place in Europe."

Driving the news: Princeton faces potential loss of over $200 million in grants from the Trump administration for not addressing antisemitism, intensifying the call for Mousavian's removal.

Iranian opposition activists and Senator Ted Cruz have been vocal in their demands, highlighting the risks associated with Mousavian's presence on campus.
Mousavian is also controversial for being heavily involved in Iran's chemical and nuclear programs beginning in 2004, long before the country was known to have been building up its nuclear arsenal.

What's next: Mousavian's retirement raises questions about his ongoing influence and demonstrates Princeton's disregard for transparency and ethical leadership.

His continued presence on Princeton's website suggests lingering ties that could further undermine the university's reputation.

The backdrop: Mousavian's past roles and statements, including supporting controversial fatwas, should have been disqualifiers for an academic position at a prestigious institution.

Princeton's delay in addressing these issues is a moral disgrace.

To read the full article, click here.

How Many More Outposts Are We Going to Let Iran Establish in the U.K.?

U.K. officials have failed to confront the willingness of Muslim institutions, many of them in Scotland, to advance the interest and agenda of the Islamic Republic of Iran. (Shutterstock)

By: Potkin Azarmehr

Every few months, the U.K. discovers yet another Iranian-linked community center, charity, or cultural hub promoting Islamism, with The Ark in Govanhill, Glasgow being the latest.

Why it matters: These centers serve as conduits for Tehran's agenda, undermining British values and posing threats to national security.

They are part of Tehran's soft-power strategy. They are instruments of influence. They are outposts of intimidation for Iranian dissidents living here.
The Ark, twice a polling station for Iran, exemplifies how such venues mask their true purpose behind community service claims. It also houses the Muslim Council of Scotland.

Driving the news: Despite the National Security Act and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, U.K. authorities remain silent as these organizations operate unchecked.

Russell Findlay, the Scottish Conservative leader, is right to demand that not a penny more of public money should end up in the coffers of these proxies. But statements alone are not enough.

What's next: The era of polite neglect must end; the U.K. must employ its existing legal tools to counter this soft power strategy effectively.

These so-called "community hubs" present themselves as charities, as cultural centers, as harmless places of worship. But the moment they serve as polling stations for a brutal theocracy—or memorial halls for its hardline leaders—they are no longer harmless.

The backdrop: The bigger question is how many more of these quietly bob in our neighborhoods—unreported, unmonitored, unnoticed until the next headline exposes them?

Only when vigilance is matched by political will can we ensure that Britain remains a safe harbor for free citizens — not a quiet backyard dock for hostile authoritarian regimes to park their influence unchecked.

To read the full article, click here.

MEF Action Alert: Stop Turkey's F-35 Purchase

Turkey is pushing to rejoin the F-35 program despite owning Russia's S-400 missile system, which threatens U.S. aircraft and risks exposing sensitive F-35 technology to Russian intelligence. In response, member of Congress are circulating a Dear Colleague letter that calls on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deny an F-35 arms deal with Turkey under the 2017 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which formally removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019.

This is a critical moment. Allowing Turkey back without removing its S-400s endangers U.S. national security, undermines our defense industry, and compromises Israel's Qualitative Military Edge. We must not reward Turkey, which continues to host Hamas leadership, attack U.S. allies in Syria, and threaten the territorial integrity of Greece and Armenia. The F-35 is vital for U.S. aerial superiority and global defense partnerships.

Act Now! Urge your House Representative to sign the letter to Secretary Rubio demanding the White House reject Turkey's F-35 bid and uphold CAATSA sanctions. Time is short—Turkey's actions threaten U.S. interests and must not be rewarded. Sign up now to protect our military secrets and defense leadership!

Click here to sign up for our letter-writing campaign to demand Congress reject Turkey's F-35 bid and uphold CAATSA sanctions.

Islamist Summer Camp Canceled; Another Iran-Promoting Institution Discovered in U.K.

The reach of the Islamic Republic of Iran into the United Kingdom extends far beyond the walls of its embassy in London. Shutterstock

By: Potkin Azarmehr

In June, Focus on Western Islamism (FWI) revealed Camp Wilayah as an Islamist camp in the U.K. This news resulted in the cancellation of this year's season. FWI has learned of yet another organization whose leaders promote the Iranian regime, operating openly in the U.K.: the Ikhlas Cultural Center, a direct Iranian operation.

Why it matters: The center's director, Ouruba Akhdar, with direct ties to the Iranian regime, uses this facade to further Tehran's hostile objectives.

Her leadership is not an innocent cultural endeavor but a strategic extension of Iranian soft power in the U.K.

Driving the news: Akhdar's public admiration for Soleimani and Khomeini, figures synonymous with terror, confirms her alignment with Iran's radical agenda.

The center masquerades as a community service, while actively promoting Iranian propaganda and interests.

Akhdar's brother, a Lebanese sheikh by the name of Nasser Akhdhar (Abu Mustafa), serves as Deputy Secretary General of the Islamic Radio and Television Union (IRTVU), an Iranian-backed and sponsored propaganda entity which operates in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan.

What's next: Why is a supporter of the Iranian regime who has lamented terrorist leaders—such as Soleimani and Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of a regime that promotes hostility toward the U.K.—serving as the director of a charitable school outside of London?

Immediate scrutiny and decisive action by the U.K. are imperative to dismantle this operation and safeguard national integrity.

The backdrop: The Ikhlas Cultural Center's operations are a clear vehicle for Iranian influence, undermining British sovereignty.

To read the full article, click here.

Germany Fails to Protect Iranian Dissidents from Regime Violence

The German government shut down the Imam Ali Mosque—also known as the

By: Benjamin Weinthal

In late July, German-Iranians stood firm against pro-Iran activists demanding the reopening of the Islamic Center of Hamburg, a known hub for Tehran's influence operations.

Why it matters: Tehran uses these centers as fronts for spreading radical Shiite Islamism and targeting dissidents on German soil.

Despite Germany's shutdown of some Iranian institutions, Iranian intelligence activities continue unabated, posing threats to both political dissidents and national security.

Driving the news: Former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser closed controversial centers for promoting extremist ideology, yet Iranian influence persists through other means.

Reports highlight Iran's MOIS and Quds Force actively engaging in espionage, abductions, and financial operations within Germany.

What's next: Germany's reluctance to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization highlights a troubling prioritization of economic ties over security concerns.

A stronger stance is needed to curb Tehran's reach and protect dissident voices.

The backdrop: The execution in Iran of German citizen Jamshid Sharmahd under dubious charges and ongoing Iranian propaganda activities emphasize the high stakes for Germany.

The conservative-led government must act decisively to counter these threats and uphold democratic values.

To read the full article, click here.

Iran's Opposition Debates New Plan for Post-Islamic Republic Era

Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the oldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last shah, in March 2023. Shutterstock

By: Mardo Soghom

If a popular uprising ousts the Islamic Republic, what will happen to Iran? The National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI) has issued a roadmap for the critical transition period.

Why it matters: This plan is the most detailed proposal addressing Iran's future governance, moving beyond slogans to tackle the realities of post-Islamic Republic challenges.

The roadmap designates Prince Reza Pahlavi as the "Leader of the National Uprising," aiming to stabilize Iran through a structured transitional government.

Driving the news: The proposed plan outlines a three-part transitional system involving legislative, executive, and judiciary oversight.

It calls for the establishment of a National Uprising Council to guide policy and a Transitional Government to maintain order and prepare Iran's future government.

What's next: Critics, including monarchists and anti-monarchists, have raised concerns about the temporary use of Islamic Republic laws and Pahlavi's prominent role.

NUFDI invites public commentary, emphasizing the draft's flexibility and the potential for input from both Iranian and international entities.

The backdrop: Iran's transitional government faces monumental tasks, including economic recovery and social unification amid decades of ideological hostility.

With the country facing economic disarray, social fragmentation, and the consequences of decades of ideological hostility toward the West and Israel, any future national government inherits a task of monumental scale.

To read the full article, click here.