BBC in journalist protection appeal

The BBC is appealing to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva to protect the human rights of its journalists and their families.

The corporation’s move follows years of persecution and harassment by the Iranian authorities, which escalated in 2017.

BBC director-general Lord Tony Hall said the BBC was taking the step “because our own attempts to persuade the Iranian authorities to end their harassment have been completely ignored”.

Lord Hall said: “In fact, during the past nine years, the collective punishment of BBC Persian Service journalists and their families has worsened. This is not just about the BBC – we are not the only media organisation to have been harassed or forced to compromise when dealing with Iran. In truth, this story is much wider: it is a story about fundamental human rights. We are now asking the community of nations at the UN to support the BBC and uphold the right to freedom of expression.”

The BBC World Service filed an urgent appeal to UN Special Rapporteurs David Kaye and Asma Jahangir in October 2017. This week BBC journalists will address the Human Rights Council session to call upon member states to take action to protect BBC staff and to ensure their ability to report freely.