Iran arrests 65 people on spy charges
13:42 - 3 November 2011
Kurdpa - Fifty such people have been summoned to appear before magistrates courts in Tehran and other major cities, accused of helping the BBC to produce a series of films that the intelligence services believe to be ‘harmful to national security’.
According to the Fararu website, 65 Iranians have been accused of working with the BBC and of receiving €1.15 million from them. The move is seen as part of a wider crackdown on independent journalists and filmmakers.
Certain Iranian sources claim that fifteen others are about to be jailed on similar charges. Some are said to have already confessed on camera to the charges brought against them. However others say they sold their films to intermediary agents, and did not know that they were being bought by the BBC.
Earlier this month six other Iranian filmmakers were arrested on charges of contributing to a BBC documentary on the life and politics of Iran’s supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei. Three have since been released on bail.
According to the Fararu website, 65 Iranians have been accused of working with the BBC and of receiving €1.15 million from them. The move is seen as part of a wider crackdown on independent journalists and filmmakers.
Certain Iranian sources claim that fifteen others are about to be jailed on similar charges. Some are said to have already confessed on camera to the charges brought against them. However others say they sold their films to intermediary agents, and did not know that they were being bought by the BBC.
Earlier this month six other Iranian filmmakers were arrested on charges of contributing to a BBC documentary on the life and politics of Iran’s supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei. Three have since been released on bail.
