Recommendations
The Committee to Protect Journalists offers the following recommendations:
To the Iranian government:
- Commit publicly to an ambitious and rapid legislative agenda to introduce and support legislation in support of press freedom.
- Immediately allow the independent Association of Iranian Journalists to re-open.
- Revise or repeal the laws that enable Iran’s revolving-door policy of imprisoning journalists, release all journalists currently in jail, and provide adequate medical care while they remain in custody.
- End the legal harassment of BBC Persian staff and their families in Iran and thoroughly investigate cases of harassment and online surveillance against journalists who are threatened because of their work.
- Expand access for the press to Iranian government officials within and outside the country, and publicly challenge the use of censorship and retaliation against journalists, including dual nationals and their families.
- Stop satellite jamming, ease internet censorship restrictions, and avoid throttling high-speed internet.
To European governments and institutions:
- Make press freedom an explicit and essential element of conversations with Iranian officials in bilateral and multilateral meetings and apply the EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline in agreements with Iranian officials
- Advocate within the U.N. for policies and norms that uphold media freedom, including providing support for the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.
- Support strong encryption. Liberalize export rules that can impede access to tools to circumvent censorship and surveillance.
To the United States:
- Liberalize sanctions restrictions that impede access to software on online tools and services to circumvent censorship and surveillance and provide greater clarity to tech companies to ensure that limitations are not imposed erroneously.
To Telegram and other tech companies:
- Establish communication channels with journalists and press freedom organizations, including rapid response protocols.
- Ensure compliance with the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and ensure human rights assessments are conducted on a regular basis.
- Consider joining the Global Network Initiative.