According to Iranian state media, five journalists allegedly working for BBC Persian were arrested on 17 September for filming a documentary without permission from the foreign press department of the culture ministry. The arrests were confirmed by Minister Mohammad Hosseini. The BBC has meanwhile released a statement stating that the journalists in question do not work for BBC Persian, contrary to reports from Iranian authorities. In the past, Iranian officials have accused BBC Persia, which is banned in Iran, of covering the nation negatively as well as inciting unrest.
NEWS
Iran: Five filmmakers arrested
According to Iranian state media, five journalists allegedly working for BBC Persian were arrested on 17 September for filming a documentary without permission from the foreign press department of the culture […]
19 Sep 2011
Support free expression for all
Prev
Next
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
At Index on Censorship, we believe everyone deserves the right to speak freely, challenge power and share ideas without fear. In a world where governments tighten control and algorithms distort the truth, defending those rights is more urgent than ever.
But free speech is not free. Instead we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism independent, our advocacy sharp and our support for writers, artists and dissidents strong.
If you believe in a future where voices aren’t silenced, help us protect it.
READ MORE
-
Council of Europe report: “Increasingly hostile environment for journalism”
2025 was a terrible year for the media in Europe, with 53 deaths of journalists and other professionals and 330 alerts published
-
Free speech is the casualty in Ukraine war
Journalists are being killed and media freedom is under threat. Both sides have questions to answer
-
Eight years on from the murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak
On Saturday, friends of the Slovak investigative journalist held 30 commemorative demonstrations to mark his brutal murder in 2018
-
The BBC World Service must be defended not defunded
Index and other organisations call on the UK government to provide clarity over public broadcaster's funding at a critical time