UN Human Rights Council: End persecution and harassment of BBC Persian journalists by Iran

The IFJ is to call on the UN Human Rights Council to act to end the continued persecution of BBC journalists by Iran.

© AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI

The IFJ is to call on the UN Human Rights Council to act to end the continued persecution of BBC journalists by Iran. 

IFJ representative and news presenter for BBC Persian TV Negin Shiraghaei will tell the 38th Session of the UN HRC in Geneva about the threats and persecution faced by her and her colleagues and call on the Council to demand the Iranian authorities cease their persecution of journalists.  

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), along with the BBC, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and international legal experts from Doughty Street Chambers (DSC), are lobbying the Council to follow up the work they did during the last session on the persecution of BBC Persian journalists by Iran. 

The IFJ has been working together with the BBC, NUJ and DSC since the escalation of persecution targeting BBC Persian Service journalists and their families in 2017.  

In addition, the IFJ will submit a formal written statement setting out the persecution suffered, the human rights violations involved, and the steps taken by the BBC to raise this matter with the UN.  

The IFJ stated: “We respectfully request that UN members call for: (a) an immediate end to the harassment of the families of BBC Persian staff, including questioning and detention; (b) the injunction to be lifted immediately; (c) an end to the criminal investigation; (d) an end to the targeting of BBC Persian staff; and (e) a request for diplomatic guarantees for the safe travel of BBC Persian staff to and from Iran for family visits.” 

The IFJ also addressed concern that Iran’s practices have extra-territorial effect, undermining the right to freedom of expression in other countries where this right is protected by law. “This is not just about the right to free speech for BBC journalists – it is about the ability of Iranian citizens and the international community to receive objective and impartial information about events in Iran, which is essential for democracy in Iran and for international policy-making.” 


 For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 16

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