BBC chief condemns Iran’s continuing bullying tactics

Rebecca Hawkes ©RapidTVNews | 05-02-2012


The sister of a BBC Persian journalist has been arrested and harshly treated by officials in Tehran in the latest in a campaign to silence the British broadcaster in Iran, according to its director general.

Writing in his blog, Mark Thompson said: "Her treatment was utterly deplorable and we condemn it in the strongest terms."
The woman was held in solitary confinement on unspecified charges in the Iranian capital's Evin Prison, before being released last week on bail.
Jamming by Iran of BBC satellite signals has long been complained of, by both the broadcaster and satellite company Eutelsat, however Thompson said the past few months have seen "increased levels of intimidation alongside disturbing new tactics".
"In recent months a number of relatives of members of BBC Persian staff have been detained for short periods of time by the Iranian authorities and urged to get their relatives in London to either stop working for the BBC, or to 'cooperate' with Iranian intelligence officials," he said.
The BBC does not operate from within Iran, where it is banned, however relatives of reporters have also seen their passports confiscated so they cannot leave the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, BBC staff have been accused in the Iranian media of rape, drug dealing, taking bribes, and converting to Baha'ism or Christianity from Islam.
Staff believe that intimidation is being heightened in the run up to Iranian elections on 2 March, in an effort to silence their reports, which are viewed by millions of regional satellite viewers.
Tensions have also increased since the British regulator, Ofcom, revoked the UK license of the Iranian government- run English language satellite channel Press TV for breaching the Communications Act.
Thompson has asked for both authorities in Tehran, and the help of other governments to stop "this campaign of intimidation, persistent censorship and a disturbing abuse of power.
"It is behaviour that all people who believe in free and independent media should be deeply concerned about," he said.