Lindsey Hilsum blogs on the new threats to the Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari
You might think that those who flee repression in Iran would breathe a sigh of relief when they get to Europe or another safe haven. But Iranian refugees say their problems aren’t over, especially if they have relatives back home.
This week Maziar Bahari, who was held in Evin prison for 118 days after working for Newsweek and Channel 4 News during last year’s election, said that last Saturday his family in Tehran received a threatening phone call.
“Tell Maziar that he shouldn’t think because he is not in Iran we don’t have any access to him,” said the anonymous voice. “The situation is getting dangerous now. Anything can happen without advance notice.”
Maziar has talked and written about the beatings and harsh interrogation he underwent in prison, and he’s unlikely to return to Tehran for his trial on 2 May.
The Revolutionary Court combed through is emails and Facebook page to come up with some bizarre allegations amongst the 11 charges against him.
He’s accused of insulting the Supreme Leader by referring to him in a private email simply as “Khamanei” not “Ayatollah Khamanei”. A Facebook friend had tagged him with a picture of President Ahmadinejad kissing a young boy, so he’s accused of insulting the president by implying he is a homosexual.
Other charges include being a “media spy”, taking part in illegal demonstrations, reporting on illegal demonstrations, and getting paid for reporting on illegal demonstrations.
It seems unlikely that the Iranian government could enact the plan of Justice Minister Morteza Baktiari to establish a special court for Iranians living outside the country. But Iranians do fear the reach of the Revolutionary Guard.
Opposition protesters in Australia say the Iranian embassy in Canberra monitors articles and protests by political activists, and films and photographs those who attend anti-regime rallies, reporting back on their activities.
Refugees I’ve met here all fear that some dissidents they meet are not dissdents at all, but government agents trying to infiltrate the refugee community and report back to Tehran.