More than 100 Iranian journalists have called on the government in Tehran to put an end to the harassment of their families.
 
In a joint letter, they said the relatives of Iranian journalists working with international media organizations are being harassed in order to force them into abandoning their professional duties.  
 
“This is an obvious violation of human rights. This is violating the rights of individuals who have no involvement in the professional work of their children, brothers or sisters,” the letter said.
 
Recently the BBC Persian service in London announced that security officials in Tehran have put pressure on the families of BBC employees in an effort to force them into either leaving their jobs or cooperating with the Iranian authorities.
 
“The only crime that these journalists have committed is that they are pursuing their professional duties through media outlets that are free from the controls and restrictions imposed by the Iranian government. The behaviour towards their families is inhumane and unethical and should end immediately,” the letter said.
 
Over 100 journalists living and working inside and outside Iran have signed the letter.  
 
The general secretary of the National Union of Journalists in Britain, Michelle Stanistreet, recently said that her organization will do all it can to support and assist members who have been targeted by Iranian security officials.