UN sounds an alarm about Iran’s death threats against journalists, also in Canada
UN experts have issued a formal statement urging Iran to end an intimidation campaign that includes death threats against journalists working for a Persian language news outlet, two of whom are Canadian.
The UN rapporteurs expressed alarm over the increasing attempts to silence correspondents reporting for Iran International, warning that these tactics violate freedom of expression.
According to the experts, escalating threats against 45 journalists and staff, as well as 315 of their family members in Canada, Great Britain, the US, Sweden, Germany, Turkey, and Belgium, represent an “unprecedented wave of repression” that infringes on their right to life and physical and mental safety.
The statement, signed by 11 UN experts, including Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Fight Against Terrorism Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Irene Khan, and Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions Morris Tidball-Binz, calls on Iran to immediately stop threatening and intimidating journalists and their families.
“This campaign is an attempt to censor critical reporting and courageous journalism in the public interest by a fragile government that seems afraid of legitimate criticism,” the UN experts added.
The experts’ statement follows an appeal made earlier this month by the lawyers of Iran International to the UN reporters, urging them to take action to protect the safety of the outlet’s journalists.
Various journalists based in Great Britain are reportedly in need of police protection, with some having to move to safe houses or relocate abroad.
One Canadian journalist working for Iran International in Canada, a former well-known TV guest in Iran, has been repeatedly targeted. Her now deceased mother, who still lived in Iran, also received threats.
Due to safety concerns, the Canadian journalist’s identity is not disclosed. She has reported receiving multiple death and kidnapping threats. Additionally, she mentioned receiving an anonymous SMS message detailing her exact location during a live report in the Toronto area, indicating that she was being followed.
The journalist also stated that there were several attempts to hack into her messages, social media accounts, and devices. Another Canadian journalist working for Iran International had personal videos accessed and posted online.
Local police investigated the threats and hacking attempts, implementing security measures such as a quick response marking at the journalist’s residence. The journalist also met with CSIS agents multiple times, who provided additional safety measures and advice.
CSIS and York Regional Police declined to comment on specific investigations but assured that all reported threats are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.
Earlier this month, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service informed The Globe that they are investigating death threats orchestrated by the Islamic Republic of Iran and warned of potential escalation in actions targeting critics in Canada.
Iran International, founded in 2017, has become the most-watched Persian language TV channel inside and outside Iran on satellite and online platforms. The outlet, headquartered in London with branches in 14 countries, is known for its critical coverage of the Tehran regime.
Threats against Iran International journalists have escalated significantly since June, coinciding with the American attack on Iranian nuclear sites and Israeli bombings.
Mahmood Enayat, the general manager of Iran International, stated that the news outlet is facing an unprecedented and coordinated campaign to silence independent reporting and force it off the air.
Last year, one of the London-based reporters, Pouria Zeraati, was attacked on his way to work, resulting in the arrest of two Romanian suspects.
Mark Stephens, the lawyer representing Iran International, described Iran’s threats against journalists and their families as a direct assault on the truth.
