Niyak Ghorbani
Niyak Ghorbani (نیاک غربانی; born circa 1987) is an Iranian dissident, journalist and activist living in the United Kingdom. He is known for his public opposition to the Islamic Republic of Iran and for displaying a banner reading "Hamas is terrorist" at pro-"Palestinian" marches in London.[1][2]
Early life and background
Ghorbani left Iran in 2014 and has lived in the UK since then. He describes himself as an anti-regime journalist and advocate.[3]
Activism
On 29 March 2024 Ghorbani, then aged 37, was arrested during an anti-Israel protest in London while holding a banner declaring "Hamas is terrorist". Video footage showed officers pinning him to the ground and confiscating the sign. The Metropolitan Police stated they had intervened "to prevent a breach of the peace". He was later de-arrested and reunited with the banner.[4]
Scotland Yard subsequently attempted to impose strict bail conditions that would have barred him from attending future pro-Palestinian marches with the banner. On 13 April 2024 a judge ruled against the police, stating they could not prevent Ghorbani from displaying the sign at such events.[5]
Views on Iran and Israel
Ghorbani has repeatedly described the Islamic Republic of Iran as "an occupying, terrorist structure that has waged war on the Iranian people for more than four decades" and has rejected narratives that frame violence in Iran as "Iranians killing Iranians".[6]
In a June 2025 interview with The Jerusalem Post, he expressed relief at Israeli strikes on Iranian regime military targets, stating that "Israel acted as an ally of the Iranian people" and that the operations targeted only "those whose hands are stained with the blood of millions of Iranians". He added that he felt both "joy and sorrow" — joy at action against the regime and sorrow for the anxiety experienced by civilians inside Iran.[7]
On 17 February 2026, shortly after 2026 Iran massacres, Ghorbani posted on X about the "Lion and Sun uprising", stating that over 80,000 Iranians had been killed by the Islamic Republic and its affiliated militias (including the IRGC and groups such as Hashd al-Shaabi). He criticised Christiane Amanpour framing of the events as an "internal conflict" and described the regime as not representing the Iranian people.[8]
References
- ↑ Sawer, Patrick. "Judge blocks police ban on ‘Hamas is Terrorist’ banner protester", The Telegraph, 13 April 2024.
- ↑ Wine, Gaby. "Iranian arrested for calling Hamas ‘terrorists’ gets his protest banner back", The Jewish Chronicle, 29 March 2024.
- ↑ Heller, Matilda. "'Israel acted as an ally of the Iranian people,' dissident journalist tells 'Post' - exclusive", The Jerusalem Post, 16 June 2025.
- ↑ Wine, Gaby. "Iranian arrested for calling Hamas ‘terrorists’ gets his protest banner back", The Jewish Chronicle, 29 March 2024.
- ↑ Sawer, Patrick. "Judge blocks police ban on ‘Hamas is Terrorist’ banner protester", The Telegraph, 13 April 2024.
- ↑ Niyak Ghorbani (@GhorbaniiNiyak) (17 February 2026). Post by @GhorbaniiNiyak. X.
- ↑ Heller, Matilda. "'Israel acted as an ally of the Iranian people,' dissident journalist tells 'Post' - exclusive", The Jerusalem Post, 16 June 2025.
- ↑ Niyak Ghorbani (@GhorbaniiNiyak) (17 February 2026). Post by @GhorbaniiNiyak. X.
External links
- Niyak Ghorbani on X
