UN asked to help protect BBC staff
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 unprecedented move follows years of persecution by the Iranian authorities.
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”.
He added: “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.”
Last October, the BBC World Service filed an urgent appeal to UN Special Rapporteurs David Kaye and Asma Jahangir on behalf of BBC Persian staff.
This week, working with the International Federation of Journalists, the BBC has organised events during the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
BBC journalists will address the Human Rights Council to call upon members to take action to protect BBC Persian Service staff against arbitrary detention of family members in Iran, the confiscation of passports and travel bans and ongoing surveillance of journalists and their families.