Journalist Batebi Says Iranian Regime Tortured Him to Falsely Claim He Was a US Spy
Iranian-American journalist tells UN Security Council he was tortured and coerced into confessing espionage urges global action as anti government protests continue.
Iran, Jan 16 : Amid ongoing anti-government protests in Iran, Iranian-American journalist Ahmad Batebi on Thursday accused the Islamic Republic of torturing him to falsely declare himself a spy for the United States. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Batebi detailed years of imprisonment, solitary confinement, and severe physical and mental abuse at the hands of what he described as the “demonic” Ayatollah regime.
Batebi recounted that he was arrested as a student for participating in demonstrations similar to the protests currently sweeping Iran. He was sentenced to death, imprisoned for over a decade, and held in solitary confinement for two years, during which he faced repeated torture, including mock executions and mutilation.
“The regime forced me in front of state cameras to claim I was an agent of the US, Israel, Mossad, and CIA,” Batebi said, showing physical scars as proof. He noted that similar coerced confessions continue to be broadcast on Iranian state television today.
The journalist highlighted that peaceful Iranian protesters are being publicly labelled as foreign agents, despite calling only for basic rights, as nationwide rallies persist amid soaring inflation, economic hardship, and public anger over governance.
After escaping prison, Batebi sought refuge in the United States, which he credited for his safety and freedom. He warned the international community that slogans alone cannot confront the Iranian regime, urging concrete action to prevent continued mass killings and potential genocide.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly dismissed the protests as “foreign-backed,” with Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi claiming links to Mossad. Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s social media posts were cited by Tehran as evidence of external interference, though activists and rights groups reject these claims.
According to the Human Rights Activist New Agency, at least 2,677 deaths have been confirmed in the protests, with 19,097 people detained and thousands more injured, as the unrest enters its 19th day.
