Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Cameraman Defects To US

The Telegraph ^ | October 1, 2012 | By Mark Hughes, New York and Adrian Blomfield

[Fennie]

Hassan Gol Khanban is thought to have planned his defection in advance of his trip to the United States, taking steps to have his family flee Iran in the hope that they too can gain asylum, his lawyer, Paul O'Dwyer, said.

Mr Khanban, who is believed to have worked for the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB for several years, had accompanied Mr Ahmadinejad to New York to attend last week's session of the UN General Assembly.

Mr O'Dwyer said that his client's wife and two children had left Iran while he was in New York and that efforts were being made to bring them to the United States.

He revealed that Mr Khanban's application for asylum had already been submitted to the department of Homeland Security and that applications would be made on behalf of his wife and children at a later date.

"I cannot reveal how long we had been in communication beforehand," he said. "He was due to leave the US last Thursday. He was part of the UN delegation. They left and he just did not go to the airport. There are obvious security concerns about revealing his location."

Having accompanied Mr Ahmadinejad to New York once before, Mr Khanban was clearly trusted by the regime.

But it is unclear whether he has sensitive information that he could offer the US authorities in exchange for asylum.

Although he was one of a number of cameramen and photographers in the Iranian delegation, opposition websites said he had worked on a number of television programmes about military and defence issues.

[Sacajaweau]

Find yourself another country!!!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Only thing is in order to have something to sell, somebody has to be buying. This administration doesn't seem to care too much about something which if we were running things would consider a major coup. I hope common sense rules and things work out well for him.

[FES0844]

Another plant.

[C210N]

Good for him.

It’s the guys like this, that can appreciate freedom, that when all of a sudden they experience a lot more of freedom than they ever had, play important roles - they become speakers and authors in spreading the word back to their homeland.

[moovova]

The grass is always greener on the other side of the viewfinder.

[soupbone1]

That’s right. In a few years he will be demonstrating for sharia law in some U.S. city and talking about how great Muslims are.

[TexasRepublic]

Welcome to the West. France is very nice this time of year.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“Another plant.”

Doubt it. Not like he will be given a position of influence here.
Iran used to be a friend, and many there wish it could be that way again.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Fennie. Sidebars:

• Defecting Iranian Cameraman Brings CIA Priceless Film of Nuclear Sites
• Hezbollah's CFO Defects to Israel With Millions in Stolen Funds
• Hezbollah CFO Absconds to Israel with 5 Million cash and Docs
• Hezbollah admits launching drone over Israel
• Hezbollah Chief Financial Officer Defects to Israel