BBC Farsi: Iranian reporters arrested
Five local reporters working for the BBC Farsi news channel have been arrested in Iran. The reporters were in the process of filming documentaries for the BBC's Farsi-language program.
They did not have permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to do so. According to state media on Monday, the journalists were taken into custody by security forces on Saturday. Culture Minister Mohammad Hosseini confirmed the arrest of the reporters, as reported by the Isna agency according to SDA.
In Iran, the BBC's Farsi channel is received via satellite and accused by the Iranian government of broadcasting "anti-revolutionary programs". For this reason, the Iranian regime does not issue filming permits in Iran. Culture Minister Hosseini went on to say that BBC Farsi was causing problems and that all reporters working in Iran should not work for the broadcaster.
According to the SDA, the Minister of Culture is responsible for the accreditation of Iranian reporters working for foreign media in the Islamic Republic. Foreign media are not allowed to work in Iran without approval from the ministry. Work has become difficult for foreign media reporters, especially since the controversial presidential election in 2009.
