BBC staff say Iranian regime is “terrorizing and punishing” their families | transnational repression

BBC staff in London said their families were being “targeted and punished” by the Iranian regime as it intensified the intimidation campaign against journalists and the media.

According to the counter-terrorism commander of the Metropolitan Police, more than 20 “threatening” incidents against the British people have occurred in recent years by Iran.

The official told the committee last month on the Congressional Transnational Repression Committee that the threat of Tehran to Iran's international threat to British television stations under the National Security Act was charged.

In March last year, an Iranian journalist was stabbed outside his home in London and forced to move abroad, saying he no longer felt safe in the UK.

The BBC said this year's journalist's “rapid and disturbing escalation” of its journalist families by Tehran in Iran's family.

Staff with the BBC Persians (FARSI Language Broadcasting subsidiary) said they were already paranoid and frustrated by Iranian parents and other family members who were long interrogated by Iranian officials and threatened to lose their jobs, be taken to prison and enjoy family assets.

“They are trying to make our family's lives miserable. It's not just harassment, but punishment – just because it's about someone.”

BBC staff had previously mentioned the rape and death threats they received, and one reporter said she was warned: “It doesn't matter if you don't live in Iran – we can do whatever we want in London, too.”

But the “ruthless” targeting family members, including parents, cousins, siblings, and even in-laws – telling them they will be punished for having connections with BBC journalists – is a new upgrade.

Tajdin said: “It's a psychological warfare. The size and number of target families are growing exponentially. They (the Iranian regime) decided that everything they had done before (forcing us to stop working in the BBC Persian) was not working, so they are now increasing the pressure.

He added: “When we go to work, we have to forget that we have a family. If they are in our minds, we will not be able to continue working.”

Tajdin said it was within reach of BBC Persian Service, with a weekly audience of nearly 22 million, making BBC journalists and their families the main target.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie said the persecution of family members was “apparently to use family relations as a means of coercion – forcing our journalists to give up their jobs or return to Iran under false pretexts.”

He said the BBC is preparing to file a new complaint with the UN Human Rights Commission.