Bashir Biazar

Bashir Biazar (Persian: بشیر بی‌آزار) is an Iranian media personality and cultural organizer who has worked with Iran's state run media and pro government cultural projects. He has gained international attention in recent years because of his activities in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom and France, which have led to legal and political disputes.

Early life and education

Not much is known about his early life and education. According to reports he has a bachelor's degree in political science from Allameh Tabatabai University and a master's degree in international relations from a university in Hyderabad, India. He became known in Iran's cultural sector during the early 2000s, working as a composer and filmmaker. Biazar later played administrative rolls in cultural bodies run by the Iranian government.^[1][2][3][4]

Career

Music and film

Bashir Biazar has worked as a composer and filmmaker, taking part in many cultural and artistic projects in Iran. He has written music for different media productions and has also helped create cultural programs.^[1][3]

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)

Biazar worked as a production manager in the Music and Song Department of Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB. He was responsible for coordinating and supervising the musical content used in state TV and radio programs.^[4][1][2][5]

Human rights groups later claimed that, while he was at IRIB, he may have had an indirect role in producing or spreading televised forced confessions. These claims were later included in a legal complaint filed against him in France in 2024.^[6][1][2]

New Horizon Institute of Arts and Culture

Biazar has also been identified as a former managing director of the New Horizon Institute of Arts and Culture, an organization involved in cultural and artistic events with an international focus.^[1][7]

Activities in the UK and Europe

After earlier studies and activism in Iran and India, Biazar spent time in London, where he identified himself as the secretary of the Iran backed Islamic Student Association of London and media activist.^[1][6] These activities reportedly included organizing or participating in conferences and events that Western officials and Iranian opposition groups have characterized as influence operations aligned with Tehran’s interests.^[1][3]

Detention and deportation case in France

During 2024 he was detained in France under circumstances and administrative procedures linked to expulsion. According to reports French authorities treated the case related to security issues. Iranian officials said his detention was political and related to his anti Israel views. At the same time, French groups and human rights complainants pointed to his past work in Iran’s state media and raised concerns that he might have been involved in or connected to abuses. These concerns led to efforts to file a torture related complaint against him in French courts.^[4][5]

On 3 July 2024, French authorities expelled Biazar, and he was released from detention and deported to Iran.^[7][1]

See also

• Iranian external operations
• Marco Polo operation
• The Sunflower case
• France-Iran relations