Iran’s targeting of journalists

• 14 Nov 2024

The union is urging international condemnation of the systematic targeting of UK based Persian journalists by Iranian authorities.

For several years, Persian journalists including those working for Iran International, BBC Persian and other outlets in the UK have been targeted by the Iranian state and actors on their behalf, attempting to intimidate and silence their reporting. Journalists have had bank accounts frozen and family members threatened through proxy punishment in Iran, with officials insisting they persuade UK-based journalists to cease reporting.

State actors know no limits, using physical violence and tactics including stalking. Persian journalists targeted by Iran can no longer return home to see their families without placing their lives in direct danger and a survey conducted by the BBC internally among BBC News Persian staff found nearly 70 per cent said they had been unable to say goodbye to one or both of their parents before they passed away in Iran.

The NUJ has repeatedly voiced its concern at the serious threats facing UK- based Persian journalists and notes increased international condemnation is required.

Threats have already materialised into attacks, evident through the stabbing of presenter Pouria Zeraati who suffered multiple knife wounds in the March 2024 attack. Whilst it is unclear whether this was linked to a foiled plot revealed in 2022 to assassinate journalists, the crime was deeply shocking and instilled fear in other Persian journalists in the UK.

In 2024, the NUJ condemned Iran’s convictions of 44 journalists working on Persian language media outlets as abhorrent. The journalists were tried in absentia by the Tehran Revolutionary court on charges of “propaganda against the Islamic republic.

Read more on the revelations, only brought to light following a leaked document.

BBC Persian provides an invaluable service to audiences through its daily TV bulletins garnering 10m weekly viewers. Visitors to BBCpersian.com and the service's Instagram page with over 21m viewers rely on it for trusted, impartial journalism. As Iranian authorities remain firm in their hostility to foreign audiences, BBC Persian continues to broadcast on key issues including nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, other human rights breaches and more recently the Israel-Gaza war.

The International Federation of Journalists continues to amplify threats to journalists in Iran, and in November 2024,  both the NUJ and IFJ condemned an alleged sexual assault against Vida Rabbani by prison officers during a body search in Tehran’s Evin prison. The Association of Iranian Journalists remains closed despite repeated calls for its re-opening, following a decision by Tehran’s prosecutor 15 years ago. As journalists continue to operate under a repressive regime, trusted journalism has never been more important.

The UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran has raised concern over Iranian authorities’ targeting of journalists, stating they have “harassed, threatened and intimidated journalists and other media employees working outside the country”. Read more on the report.

In June, the BBC issued a statement declaring its intention to lodge another complaint to the UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures. The NUJ welcomed the BBC's recognition of the escalating threats against journalists, noting  journalists working for several language services, including BBC Persian, pay a huge personal price simply for doing their job. 

Tim Davie, BBC director general, said:

“In addition to enduring personal security threats from Iranian state actors operating beyond Iran’s borders, BBC News Persian journalists are now witnessing a disturbing rise in the persecution of their family members inside Iran. These acts are clearly designed to exploit family ties as a means of coercion – pressuring our journalists to abandon their work or return to Iran under false pretences.

"We call on the Iranian authorities to immediately cease this campaign of intimidation and to stop targeting journalists with violence, threats, and psychological warfare. This persecution is a direct assault on press freedom and human rights. It must end now.”

Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, said:

“The Iranian authorities must immediately cease the relentless intimidation of journalists. We demand an end to the State campaign against press freedom and the violation of human rights through direct threats, and what has rightly been described as psychological warfare. All NUJ members stand in solidarity with those journalists under threat."

This year, the union condemned as deplorable, the abduction of an Iran International journalist's mother, father and brother by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 

Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said:

"This deplorable act of abduction is wholly condemned by the NUJ. Such tactics by the Iranian authorities to intimidate journalists and stymie their reporting have been used for several years and require condemnation by the UK government and the international community.

"The Iranian state has shown its blatant disregard for human rights and we must all be vocal in our opposition of blatant efforts to restrict press freedom. We call for the immediate release of the family members being detained, and an end to the harassment of the journalist at this difficult time.”

The NUJ continues to engage with employers on action to ensure the safety of journalists but is urging increased global condemnation, that exerts pressure on Iran to cease its deliberate and harmful targeting of journalists. Journalism is not a crime. 

Listen to this interview with Behrang Tajdin, NUJ Nec member, about the experiences of journalists working for the BBC Persian News service, facing an escalation of initimidation. 

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