Supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late shah, are clashing with opponents of a return to monarchy in London, as tensions among Iranian opposition groups escalate. The conflict has been highlighted by a rap video from Tony Mohraz, known as 021kid, which calls for violence against rival groups.
Mohraz, a 28-year-old from Tehran, posted a video on his Facebook page in which he raps: “Basij, one, two, shoot. IRGC, one, two, shoot. Mojahedin, one, two, shoot.” The lyrics target the Basij paramilitary, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK), an exiled opposition group that fought the regime from Iraq.
The video has been referred to the Metropolitan Police by Laila Jazayeri, director of the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK and a prominent MEK supporter. She described it as a “terrifying and direct incitement to murder members and supporters” of her group. A police inspector acknowledged the complaint, saying it was being taken seriously.
Scuffles at protests against the Iranian regime have required police intervention, with tensions rising between pro-Pahlavi and pro-MEK factions. Some pro-Pahlavi supporters have been seen wearing black jackets bearing the insignia of Savak, the shah’s feared secret police, which Jazayeri called a threat to democratic discourse.
In the Finchley Road area of north London, known as Little Tehran, restaurant and cafe owners have reported pressure from pro-Pahlavi supporters to display the flag of the former monarchy. The Met police confirmed they are assessing a report of threatening behaviour in relation to the song.
