Iran protests to Britain over release of terrorist

London, Oct 11, IRNA - Iran on Friday protested to Britain against release of a terrorist who was involved in the 1980 attack on the Iranian Embassy in London, saying that the release will affect relations between the two countries.

"Iran seriously calls on the British government to revise its decision
to release this terrorist and reminds governments of their commitment
to the war on terror," Iran's Embassy said in a statement.

The statement that the release of Fowzi Badavinejad, who was an
accomplice in occupying the embassy and killing two diplomats in 1980,
has created a deep concern for Iranians living in the United Kingdom.

Badavinejad is one of six hostage-takers who laid siege on Iran's
Embassy in London in May 1980. The terrorists took 26 people hostage
and wounded several others leading to the death of two diplomats.

"The release of this terrorist is a concern for the Iranian public
opinion as it follows a recent terrorist attack on the Iranian Embassy
in London," it said.

Earlier a British official told IRNA that it would not give refugee
status to convicted terrorists and "Badavinejad instead is being given
only temporary leave to remain in the UK for six months, when his
status will be reviewed."
"Our aim is to deport people as quickly as possible but the law
requires us to first obtain assurances that the person being returned
will not face certain death. In the meantime a person would be put on
extremely tight reporting restrictions," he said.

"The British government's decision to release Badavinejad will affect
relations between the two countries."
Badavinejad was jailed for life in 1981. His trial was dramatically
halted after a few days of starting when he suddenly changed his plea
to guilty from charges of conspiracy to murder, false imprisonment,
firearm possession and two accounts of manslaughter.