BBC Persian journalists say Iran threatens families to silence reporting

Exiled Iranian journalists working for the BBC say they and their relatives are being subjected to intimidation and surveillance by Iranian authorities, according to The Guardian.

The newspaper reports that relatives of BBC Persian staff inside Iran have been interrogated, threatened with arrest, and warned that their assets could be seized unless the journalists stop reporting, particularly on recent unrest within the country.

Some reporters said officials appeared to possess detailed information about their professional activities abroad, while others described receiving serious threats, including warnings of kidnapping or violence, despite living in the United Kingdom. The pressure has, in some cases, forced journalists to resign to shield relatives from financial or legal repercussions.

The Guardian says the intimidation campaign has continued in the wake of nationwide protests and a violent crackdown that reportedly left tens of thousands dead, with journalists warning that relatives in Iran are effectively being punished in retaliation for their reporting.