UN experts have voiced their ongoing concerns regarding escalating threats against journalists associated with London-based Iran International. A detailed review by a group of UN special rapporteurs highlighted verified threats concerning the safety of 45 journalists and staff members, as well as 315 of their family members, spanning across several countries including the UK, USA, Canada, Türkiye, and various European nations. Reports indicate incidents such as stalking, car break-ins, and direct death threats. Families of journalists have faced interrogation, surveillance, and threats of arrest and even assassination.
The experts raised alarms about the state of media freedom in Iran, describing the Iranian government’s actions as attempts to silence critical journalism and public interest reporting. They emphasized that such intimidation not only violates freedom of expression but also stifles media freedom, potentially creating a chilling effect that robs the public of essential information. The civic space within Iran is already tightly restricted, and this transnational repression poses further barriers to exposing human rights violations (more details).
Iran International is renowned for its reporting on sensitive issues, including Iran’s geopolitical dynamics, economic conditions, and numerous human rights concerns. Its reporting has provoked “very serious threats” from Iran, including assassination and kidnap threats against journalists, physical assaults, and online abuse. These actions have been justified by Iran through the controversial declaration of Iran International as a terrorist organization. Nevertheless, this news outlet isn’t the sole focus of Iran’s censorship efforts. International Persian-language channels like BBC News Persian have also been targets of harassment.
Iran’s aggressive stance on media freedom has been a recurrent issue for human rights organizations. Reporters Without Borders has labeled Iran as one of the most repressive countries for press freedom. In a recent development, the capital charge of espionage has been broadened to include news dissemination and media activities. Iran’s recent conflict with Israel exacerbated press censorship, further compromising the safety of Iranian journalists, who have become increasingly dependent on international protection. The continued threats highlight the precarious situation faced by reporters striving to operate under an authoritarian regime.