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Written question asked by Fabian Hamilton (Labour) on Monday, 18 July 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 July 2022 (named day). It was answered by Amanda Milling (Conservative) on Thursday, 21 July 2022 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Iran: BBC Persian Service

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Iranian counterpart on reported threats to BBC Persian journalists in that country.

Answer

We condemn the persecution of current and former BBC Persian employees and their family members and the many individuals who have had their assets frozen or are banned from leaving Iran. These actions by the Iranian authorities contravene multiple international obligations and we will continue to call them out for as long as they commit them. We regularly raise this issue of harassment directly with the Iranian Government, as well as in multilateral fora.

In March 2022, the UK's Global Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French, delivered a statement to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, underlining that the Government of Iran has continued to violate human rights, including the rights of journalists and reiterated our demand that Iran improve its human rights situation.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
38508
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Press freedom Iran BBC Persian Service
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk