BBC taking harassment of women journalists to the UN
The BBC World Service has appealed to the United Nations against Iran over the online violence faced by women journalists working for BBC News Persian. “Women journalists at BBC News Persian face daily, relentless online attacks and harassment, including threats of rape and death”, the company says.
The appeal calls on Iran to take action in respect of those responsible for the online violence towards women journalists, by investigating and prosecuting them.
“We absolutely deplore the violent, misogynistic and gendered harassment our women journalists have to face every day”, said Liliane Landor, Senior Controller of BBC International News and Director of World Service
“Trusted and impartial journalism is fundamental to any democracy and it is only by working together that we can ensure the safety of journalists everywhere and ensure women’s voices are included. We have to be able to work unhindered, free from threats and free from abuse.”
Examples of the online violence and harassment they face include:
- Threats of rape and death directed at women journalists and their families in the UK and in Iran
- Gendered attacks on their credibility as journalists in both state media and online in Iran, including false and defamatory stories about their personal lives, their relationships with contributors and what they wear, aimed at discrediting the women of BBC News Persian staff among their friends and family – and the broader public – by accusing them of sexual indecencies
- Hacking and phishing of personal information, emails and photos, which later appear online with false stories about their personal lives, which are used in interrogation of their family members in Iran
The company says that the harassments are leading to staffers opting out of using social media as a journalistic tool in fear of harassment and self-censor online, including removing themselves from social media, public spaces and other profile opportunities
Staffers suffer significant and serious mental and physical health issues, including anxiety, anxiety attacks, psychological trauma and depression, requiring therapy and medical intervention, the BBC said.
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