International press freedom organisations have raised alarm over allegations that Iranian authorities abducted family members of a journalist covering the Israel-Iran conflict.
According to reports, the journalist, who works for a foreign news outlet, had been reporting critically on Iran’s role in the ongoing Middle East tensions when relatives in Iran were reportedly detained.
The Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have condemned the alleged abductions, calling them a blatant attempt to silence independent reporting.
Sources indicate the journalist’s spouse and two siblings were taken from their Tehran home by unidentified security personnel. No formal charges have been disclosed, and Iranian officials have not publicly acknowledged the detentions.
This incident follows a pattern of increasing pressure on journalists with international connections, particularly those covering sensitive geopolitical issues involving Iran. Media watchdogs note at least three similar cases in the past year where relatives of dissident reporters faced harassment or imprisonment.
The journalist in question, whose identity is being withheld for safety reasons, had recently published investigative pieces examining Iran’s weapons transfers to regional allies. Colleagues describe the reported abductions as retaliation for professional work that contradicted official narratives.
Human rights groups are demanding immediate information about the detained family members’ whereabouts and legal status.
They warn that such tactics create a climate of fear that extends beyond Iran’s borders, affecting diaspora journalists and their networks. The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression has been notified and may raise the case in upcoming human rights council sessions.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
