Overview
- In a Facebook post, Mohamed Mohsen Abo El-Nour called reports of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing an Israeli “strategic deceit” and a “hoax.”
- BBC Arabic hosted him the next day to discuss the killing after Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed Khamenei’s death.
- El-Nour has appeared on BBC Arabic at least 14 times since October 7, 2023, while serving as chairman of the Arab Forum for Analysing Iranian Policies.
- Media monitor Camera said the BBC should not have featured him and urged the broadcaster to stop platforming such contributors.
- The BBC said his views are “abhorrent,” were not expressed on its air, and are not endorsed; coverage also notes his endorsement of a Holocaust-denying author and messages praising the October 7 attackers.