– M Rafi Ahmed
Accolades poured in from several quarters across the globe for Sahar Imami (40), the news anchor of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), who was live when an Israeli airstrike hit the state broadcaster, forcing her to leave the studio by chanting “Allahu Akbar”. However, she came back putting up a brave face and announced the news about Israel’s airstrike and continued with the news presentation.
Notably, the video went viral on social media platforms wherein people across different nations heaping praise on Sahar Imami for her boldness brushing aside the attack on the state-run radio station by resuming the news presentation. Meanwhile, Iranian officials condemned the attack as a violation of free expression, vowing that the “voice of the Islamic revolution” would not be silenced.
Israeli missiles have hit the Iranian state television facility in Tehran, temporarily interrupting the broadcast. The viral clip came as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed that the “Iranian propaganda and incitement mouthpiece is on its way to disappearing.” Countering this, IRIB senior official at the broadcasting service, Hassan Abedini said, “The Zionist regime, the enemy of the Iranian nation, minutes ago conducted a military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran news network.” The regime (Israel) was unaware of the fact that the voice of the Islamic revolution and the great Iran will not be silenced with a military operation.”
Zahra Bahramzadeh Azar, Iran’s vice president for Women and Family Affairs, also praised Emami in a post on the social media platform X, calling her the embodiment of Iranian women’s courage and stating that she had become “the voice of all Iranian citizens in the face of aggression.” Iranian State TV news anchor Sahar Emami is being lauded by supporters of the Iranian regime and its regional allies after continuing her broadcast during an Israeli airstrike on Iran’s state broadcasting headquarters on Monday.
Emami resumed her live broadcast shortly after the attack, earning praise online for her “resilience” and “bravery.” On social media, she was featured alongside images of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and other figures from the Iran-led Shiite axis. One post featuring her next to Nasrallah included the caption: “You cannot destroy an idea by killing.”
It may be recalled that a presenter for a London-based Iranian TV news channel was repeatedly stabbed outside his home in the city last March. Iran International, which reported extensively in 2022 on anti-government protests in Iran, said the news anchor Pouria Zeraati, 36, was attacked by a group. The Metropolitan Police said specialist counter-terrorism officers were leading an investigation into the stabbing. Nearly 18 months ago, Iran International became one of the main providers of news during the wave of anti-government protests in Iran.
Several leaders across the globe have condemned Israel’s attacking the strategic locations in Tehran, one of the largest cities and capital of Iran. As the hostilities between the two countries continue to escalate, Israel on Monday issued a warning confirming the evacuation of northern District 3 in Tehran.
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The warning was issued ahead of planned air strikes that will target military infrastructure of the Iranian regime. This area is considered a strategically significant part of the Iranian capital and is also home to the country’s state broadcaster, IRIB. It also houses at least four hospitals and a major police infrastructure. The embassies of Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, as well as UN offices and the Agence France-Presse bureau, are also located here.
Muslims in different parts of the world including India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, had special dua for peace to prevail in Iran and protect the people from Israel’s missile attack.
Iran’s state radio and television station, IRIB, reported that some of its employees and rescue workers were killed and injured on Monday in an attack on the broadcaster, although it did not specify the exact number of casualties.
