JERUSALEM: Iranian prosecutors filed criminal charges on Wednesday targeting activists and journalists following a BBC report that alleged security forces had “sexually assaulted and killed” a 16-year-old girl during protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.
Nika Shakarami’s death also sparked widespread outrage at the time.
Amini died after being detained by police over allegedly not wearing her mandatory hijab, or headscarf, to their liking. UN investigators have said Iran is responsible for the “physical violence” that led to Amini’s death.
In Shakarami’s case, authorities said she died after falling from a tall building, something immediately disputed by her mother, who said her daughter had been beaten.
The BBC report published on Monday — relying on what it described as a report written for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard — said Shakarami was detained by undercover security forces who molested her, then killed her with batons and electronic stun guns after she struggled against the assault.
Iran’s Mizan news agency, run by the country’s judiciary, said on Wednesday that the BBC story was “a fake, incorrect and full-of-mistakes report,” without addressing any of the alleged errors it contained.
It was the government’s first acknowledgment of the BBC report and it said “journalists and activists” have been summoned over the issue.
“The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office filed a criminal case against these people,” Mizan said, with charges including “spreading lies” and “propaganda against the system.” The first charge can carry up at a year and a half in prison and dozens of lashes, while the second can involve up to a year’s imprisonment.
Mizan did not identify those charges and it was unclear whether prosecutors had charged three BBC journalists who bylined the report. Those associated with the BBC’s Persian service have been targeted for years by Tehran and barred from working in the country since its disputed 2009 presidential election and Green Movement protests.
The BBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The broadcaster noted that in recent years, there have been faked documents floating around during widespread protests, purporting to be from the Iranian government.
However, it said it had “confidence that it is genuine,” despite an inconsistency in the report using an old acronym for the police.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi on Wednesday tried to dismiss the BBC report as an effort to “divert attention” from ongoing protests at American universities over the Israel-Hamas war — despite the events dominating US television networks.
“The enemy and their media have resorted to false and far-fetched reports to conduct psychological operations,” Vahidi said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

LONDON: UAE-based conglomerate Al Habtoor Group said Tuesday it will open its new TV channel in Beirut in an effort to shake up the Lebanese media landscape.

In a statement revealing new details about the group’s first foray into broadcasting, the Emirati channel said it “promises to offer extensive job opportunities and serve as a beacon of positivity in the media landscape.”

The channel will initially create about 300 jobs in fields including journalism, production and art, with additional jobs expected to be added as the project expands.

“We chose Lebanon specifically as the headquarters for our new television channel, aiming to create job opportunities for the Lebanese people, especially the youth, and to contribute to enhancing the economic and social conditions of our people in Lebanon,” explained Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, founding chairman of Al Habtoor Group, on X.

Al Habtoor revealed that discussions were held with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who pledged to provide support and facilitation for the project.

اخترنا #لبنان بالتحديد دوناً عن غيره من الدول كمقر لقناتنا التلفزيونية الجديدة، بهدف خلق فرص عمل للشعب اللبناني وتشغيل الشباب والشابات، والمساهمة في تعزيز الظروف الاقتصادية والاجتماعية لأهلنا في لبنان. وهذا واجبي تجاه أهلي هناك، حتى إن لم أحقق أرباحاً أو استفادة مالية مجزية.… https://t.co/l4IpBFRgiN

— Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor (@KhalafAlHabtoor) May 1, 2024

The company also unveiled plans for a new 100,000-square-meter studio city, aimed at establishing a vibrant hub for film and TV production.

In April, Al Habtoor Group announced its entry into the broadcasting industry with the launch of a new television channel dedicated to “spreading positivity.”

According to the chairman, the new channel will focus on “highlighting successes and good news around the world” to ultimately make people “happier and more productive.”

Operating in the UAE and international markets, Al Habtoor has a presence across various cities around the world, including London, Vienna, Budapest, Beirut, and Springfield in the state of Illinois, US.

It has businesses in multiple sectors including hospitality, automotive, real estate, education, insurance, and publishing.

Set to launch later this year, the new venture is more than just broadcasting, Al Habtoor said.

“Our commitment is not only to establish a channel but also to foster a thriving media environment for professionals,” said the Lebanese entrepreneur.

“We are dedicated to empowering the local workforce and contributing positively to Lebanon’s economic revival.”