Home / Arts and Entertainment / Riz Ahmed Claims Spy Agencies Tried to Recruit Him
Riz Ahmed Claims Spy Agencies Tried to Recruit Him
24 May
Summary
- Actor Riz Ahmed alleges three recruitment attempts by intelligence services.
- One alleged approach involved a senior BBC executive.
- Ahmed recounted a past incident involving airport detention and threats.
Oscar-winning actor Riz Ahmed has claimed that British intelligence services made three separate attempts to recruit him. These alleged approaches, described by the actor as "inherently comedic," included one instance involving a senior executive at the BBC.
Ahmed detailed an early encounter following the release of his film "The Road to Guantánamo." He recounted being taken into a side room at Luton airport, threatened with physical harm, and having his phone confiscated. During this incident, he was questioned about whether he became an actor to "further the Muslim struggle."
Further recounting his experiences, Ahmed mentioned a second attempt through a family friend and a third, more recent approach by someone senior who had recently left the BBC. He made these revelations during a conversation with journalist Mehdi Hasan on his media platform Zeteo.
