UN experts call on Iran to stop intimidating journalists
ahead of parliamentary elections
GENEVA (11 November 2015) – The authorities in Iran
should stop arresting, prosecuting and harassing journalists and online
activists, and provide a safe space for freedom of expression as the country
prepares for parliamentary elections
early next year, UN human rights experts said today.
“Increasing intimidation of journalists is hindering
their ability to operate freely in the country,” said Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special
Rapporteur on Iran. He noted that in recent days, Iranian intelligence and
security officials have arrested a number of journalists in what appeared to be
a new crackdown on freedom of expression and the media.
The arrest on 2 November of five journalists, including
Afarine Chitsaz, Ehssan Mazandarani, Saman Safarzai, and Issa Saharkhiz, by
plainclothes members of the Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence units was
particularly worrying, Mr. Shaheed said.
The journalists were reportedly detained on suspicion of
taking part in an infiltration network, seeking to influence public opinion and
undermine the Islamic Republic on behalf of western governments, according to
Iranian state television and media reports. More than a dozen other journalists
and social media activists have also reportedly been summoned for interrogation
by the authorities.
Iran has one of the highest numbers of journalists and
social activists in detention in the world. According to figures from April
2015, at least 45 were being held for their peaceful activities.
“The government of Iran should not silence critical or
dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national
security concerns,” Mr. Shaheed said. As
a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran
has international obligations to allow and protect the right to a free press
and access to information, he stressed.
“Freedom of expression is central to guarantee open, free
and fair political processes. Ultimately, democratic processes are
unsustainable if media workers and activists have no safety to perform their
vital role,” said David Kaye, the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of
opinion and expression.
The timing of an increase in detention and harassment of
journalists was particularly worrying, Mr Kaye said, as the country prepares
for parliamentary elections in February 2016.
“Public participation in any electoral process is
virtually impossible if the media and civil society are so frequently affected
by arrests and prosecution. Unfortunately this is not a new concern; similar
concerns were expressed by UN experts regarding the arrest of journalists just
before the Iranian elections of 2013” said Mr. Kaye.
The Iranian authorities should reverse this trend and
must quickly ensure “a greater space for free exchange of ideas in the run-up
to elections,” he added.
The human rights experts urged the Government of Iran to
release all journalists including Jason Rezaian, who have been arbitrarily and
unlawfully arrested for their peaceful exercise of fundamental rights.
ENDS
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. Learn
more, log on to:
Human rights in Iran:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/IRIndex.aspx
Freedom of expression:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomOpinion/Pages/OpinionIndex.aspx
UN Human Rights, Country Page – Iran:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/IRIndex.aspx
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