Threats, unlawful surveillance and harassment by the authorities, are just some of the concerns facing journalists in Iran, prompting a group of independent UN human rights experts on Wednesday, to once again sound the alarm. And these acts of harassment and intimidation have allegedly intensified after the BBC’s reporting of the anti-government street protests, which began last November.

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential. Read about our approach to external linking. Rana Rahimpour told the UN Human Rights Council on 9 March that she had received a written message saying that she, her children, her husband and her elderly parents would be assassinated within a month. It also said that Ms. Rahimpour would be the first to be murdered, followed by other BBC Persian Service staffers. "Two years ago we offered to talk directly with the Iranian government in a constructive way to find a new way forward. These ultimately constitute serious threats to global security and thus demand strong reactions on the part of the governments of the countries where BBC Persian Service journalists reside.". Google Privacy Policy and When these acts are conducted extra-territorially, as with BBC Persian Services, they violate international law regulating the use of force in times of peace and “ultimately constitute serious threats to global security and thus demand strong reactions on the part of the Governments of the countries where BBC Persian Service journalists reside”, they said. “Journalists working for the BBC Persian Service and other Farsi-language news outlets outside Iran have faced threats, criminal investigations, unlawful surveillance, freezing of assets, defamation and harassment by Iranian authorities”, five UN Special Rapporteurs said in a joint statement. Mr Bagheri Kani could go some way to address the concerns of the international community if he is willing to accept this offer in a positive spirit, without conditions. She presented on BBC Two from 2004 to 2010 and later co-presented with Tess Daly a programme entitled Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday nights, which aired on BBC One.. “Several journalists have also been targeted for going public about the harassment, and seeking protection from the UN”. Video, Fauci: 'We have got to double down' to fight Covid, Belgian anaesthetist jailed for causing Brit's death while drunk, Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: 'Civilians massacred', says Amnesty International, Jerry Rawlings: Ghana's ex-president dies aged 73, China Muslims: Volkswagen says 'no forced labour' at Xinjiang plant. “These allegations are extremely concerning and if confirmed, would indicate that the Iranian authorities are prepared to use force extra-territorially, in violation of international law”, upheld the UN experts. The special rapporteurs said the reactions included "implementing safeguards to protect the integrity of journalists, their families and their profession". This website is using cookies to improve your browsing experience.