BBC is not having a lot of fun now. I appreciate they want to stay neutral and objective while both sides see this as an offense and spit toxicity at them. I hope the BBC can prevail in this and stay safe.
Threatening BBC in London seems like a really stupid idea. They will just call MI5 and the Metropolitan police. I would think British government takes dim view on a foreign government trying to pressure BBC in London.
P.S. You see that is the British government's job, stay out of their turf. :)
Yeah remember when the Russians poisoned a Russian living in London with polonium tea and in return our government did....... uh something? Maybe a strongly worded letter or some sanctions or something?
Oh or how about when Russians assassinated someone with a nerve agent in Salisbury and ended up killing some British civilians too? We didn't let that stand at all because the government decided too.... uhm, I think we arrested the bloke who did it? Maybe?
So yeah if I was Iran I would quaking in my boots.
It doesn’t matter that you don’t live in Iran – we can also do whatever we want in London
I mean, sure. Iran can probably assassinate BBC staff in London. One can do a lot with first-mover advantage. Russia could probably have Biden killed if it wanted to, personal security or no.
It's just that what's going to happen afterwards to the assassinating country makes the action not likely worthwhile. Like, if you have surprise available to you, is what you want to expend it on really assassinating BBC staff?
The Saudis did this to Kashogi with zero consequences, so why not…
Russia killed a former Russian in UK. Kim Jong had his cousin killed in Japan (?) as well. Just weeks back India killed a Canadian. Don't know why people think their lives matter more than two countries "relations".
He was killed at the Saudi Consulate. By Saudis. That's not the same as this.
Also, what do you gain by assassinating a BBC journalist?
They'll be replaced and at the very least the PR fallout will be negative.
The journalist will still be dead... and the next journalist may not want to join them.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
In October 2022, the Iranian foreign affairs ministry named BBC Persian in a list of organisations and people sanctioned for “deliberate actions in support of terrorism, incitement of violence, and human rights abuses”.
BBC staff have told the Guardian of living in “constant fear” similar to being in a war zone, and needing support from therapists and specialists in PTSD.
“When we do our job well, as journalists working within BBC editorial guidelines – trying to be accurate, fair and balanced storytellers – then our family members in Iran may pay the price for that.”
The BBC Persian journalist Soran Qurbani says: “I’ve never censored myself or done something in the Iranian government’s favour, but when they beat my brother in jail just because of my work, I feel responsible somehow.
A total of 79 journalists have been arrested in Iran itself since the national protests after the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini detained for allegedly wearing the Islamic headscarf incorrectly in September 2023.
Rozita Lotfi, the head of BBC Persian, told the Guardian: “Iran is a very restricted country regarding access for journalists, and we rely quite a lot on social media for newsgathering.
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