Iranians speak out over sexual harassment scandal in Press TV

[alarabi]

Allegations of sexual harassment at an Iranian TV station are emboldening Iranian women to break their silence and share their experiences of a problem traditionally not acknowledged inside the country.

Sheena Shirani, a news reader at Press TV, the state broadcaster's English language news channel, broke the taboo by speaking out about sexual harassment she says she endured from two of her managers over a prolonged period of time.

Her allegations went public in spectacular fashion when she posted online a recording of a phone conversation in which a man believed to be her boss, Hamid Reza Emadi, repeatedly asks her for sexual favours.

Following the incident Shirani quit her job and left the country and later published the audio file, which has been listened to more than 120,000 times on her Facebook page and an Iranian news site based outside the country. She also shared what appeared to be a screengrab from a text exchange in which Emadi asked her to take the audio down.

nish you saying it is your fault to have become friendly, worn make-up, worn perfume or smiled."

Another screengrab has also surfaced which apparently shows a WhatsApp message containing a statement from Emadi, denying the allegations and saying the audio was fabricated.

However, in an unprecedented step Press TV has announced that it has suspended two unnamed members of staff while allegations are investigated. One of them is widely thought to be Emadi and the other another member of staff whom Shirani has accused of sexually harassing her.

In a statement issued via Iran's government news agency, Press TV said: "Although the audio file is not legally admissible and no complaint has been made, but since the case is of a serious matter the relevant officials are investigating the case to clarify the issue."

The statement said that the audio file was made with the help of "people opposing the Iranian system with political motives" and it also said that the case is "suspicious" as Shirani - who it did not name - had not lodged a criminal complaint.

"As a natural reaction, it was expected that the person pursue the case before making it public on the social media networks," it added.

Shirani has responded that she had little choice as the superiors to whom she should have been able to complain were the people she had accused.

"In a society like Iran if you happen to be weak and if you do not maintain strong ties to powerful people..then you are basically on your own," she told the Persian service of the Voice of America. "In addition to that, if you are a woman and a single mother, you are completely devoid of any value in this society."

Shirani said the sexual harassment was part of a wider pattern of harassment she suffered at Press TV and designed to undermine her. She complained she was constantly pulled up for a variety of petty offences including being a few minutes late for work and fined for not following the strict dress code required in governmental organizations.

"I knew no one viewed me as a professional, I was viewed sexually", she told one interviewer.

Shirani's actions and her candid comments have prompted a debate about sexual harassment in the workplace, a topic that is rarely discussed in Iran and usually never mentioned on public platforms or the media.

Social media has provided a forum for Iranians to express their admiration for what Shirani has done.

"Her bravery deserves applause. All of us women need to learn from her and defend our rights as a human being," said one post on Facebook.

What's happening in Press TV?


BBC

 

[Always Neutral]

Beauty with Brains but still no need to sexually harass her. I Think the Iranian Courts are better than most Sharia Courts in other countries so hopefully she will get Justice.

 

[Madali]

This is stats from the west,
1 In 3 Women Has Been Sexually Harassed At Work, According To Survey

1 in 3 in the west are sexual harassed at work. This is hardly news, even though she's obviously turning this into an opportunity for herself. If she had any complaints, she could made a complaint about it. The Iranian courts take cases such as these seriously, and the Labor Law, having socialistic influences from the revolution, generally favors employees over employers.

Anyway, this is hardly important, but if, in a village, a father one day becomes angry and raises his hand against his child, it will make headlines all around the world.

 

[EAK]

Horny donkeys....

What the hell is this .. Iranian people behaving worst then the medival men ..WTF .. this video totally changed my prospect about Iran and Iranians..

 

[Taygibay]

So this shows Iranian men to be as bad as all others around the world?
How is that any concern? The important part is that ...

... since the case is of a serious matter the relevant officials are investigating the case to clarify the issue."

the authorities are responding.
It could have happened anywhere! It does every day!
It was not worth a thread IMHoO.

Just sayin' Tay.

 

[Serpentine]

What the hell is this .. Iranian people behaving worst then the medival men ..WTF .. this video totally changed my prospect about Iran and Iranians..

Do you know what would it take for us Iranians to change our views towards Pakistan or other countries forever? Believe me, it wouldn't take much, the excuses are more than enough, but it's too stupid and arrogant to judge a whole country based on individual acts, which is exactly what you did here.

 

[Daneshmand]

It happens everywhere around the world even in the most advanced societies. This problem is quite common in animal kingdom. The thing that makes humans out of us, is how we respond to it. As in this case, the perpetrators are being investigated, which is a good thing. In many other places, this does not happen.

Even in BBC sexual predators continued hunting child victims for decades, with BBC covering it up until the predators died: Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By comparison this was just a small glitch in Iran. And we all know how the situation is in many middle eastern countries with regard to their own women as well as how they treat the imported baby-sitters and their domestic slaves where no investigations happen.

 

[Mentee]

Allegations of sexual harassment at an Iranian TV station are emboldening Iranian women to break their silence and share their experiences of a problem traditionally not acknowledged inside the country.

Sheena Shirani, a news reader at Press TV, the state broadcaster's English language news channel, broke the taboo by speaking out about sexual harassment she says she endured from two of her managers over a prolonged period of time.

Her allegations went public in spectacular fashion when she posted online a recording of a phone conversation in which a man believed to be her boss, Hamid Reza Emadi, repeatedly asks her for sexual favours.

Following the incident Shirani quit her job and left the country and later published the audio file, which has been listened to more than 120,000 times on her Facebook page and an Iranian news site based outside the country. She also shared what appeared to be a screengrab from a text exchange in which Emadi asked her to take the audio down.

nish you saying it is your fault to have become friendly, worn make-up, worn perfume or smiled."

Another screengrab has also surfaced which apparently shows a WhatsApp message containing a statement from Emadi, denying the allegations and saying the audio was fabricated.

However, in an unprecedented step Press TV has announced that it has suspended two unnamed members of staff while allegations are investigated. One of them is widely thought to be Emadi and the other another member of staff whom Shirani has accused of sexually harassing her.

In a statement issued via Iran's government news agency, Press TV said: "Although the audio file is not legally admissible and no complaint has been made, but since the case is of a serious matter the relevant officials are investigating the case to clarify the issue."

The statement said that the audio file was made with the help of "people opposing the Iranian system with political motives" and it also said that the case is "suspicious" as Shirani - who it did not name - had not lodged a criminal complaint.

"As a natural reaction, it was expected that the person pursue the case before making it public on the social media networks," it added.

Shirani has responded that she had little choice as the superiors to whom she should have been able to complain were the people she had accused.

"In a society like Iran if you happen to be weak and if you do not maintain strong ties to powerful people..then you are basically on your own," she told the Persian service of the Voice of America. "In addition to that, if you are a woman and a single mother, you are completely devoid of any value in this society."

Shirani said the sexual harassment was part of a wider pattern of harassment she suffered at Press TV and designed to undermine her. She complained she was constantly pulled up for a variety of petty offences including being a few minutes late for work and fined for not following the strict dress code required in governmental organizations.

"I knew no one viewed me as a professional, I was viewed sexually", she told one interviewer.

Shirani's actions and her candid comments have prompted a debate about sexual harassment in the workplace, a topic that is rarely discussed in Iran and usually never mentioned on public platforms or the media.

Social media has provided a forum for Iranians to express their admiration for what Shirani has done.

"Her bravery deserves applause. All of us women need to learn from her and defend our rights as a human being," said one post on Facebook.

What's happening in Press TV?


BBC

whats new---- it happens every where around the dam* world,---------------------Iranian govt should take on to task those *** perverts, oh wait I should not have been surprised------- folks, its coming staright from an evil farsi majoosi shia country------so it should be a grave issue of utmost strategic importance and be discussed here on a defence forum----

 

[Audio]

Daddy approves! Very hot!

 

[Hack-Hook]

Well at lesdt here the guys get sacked i know in other places the result would have been something elsr .but here a question raise . if she had no problem herself why she didn't cut the line and talked for more than half an hour with the guy.

 

[Daneshmand]

Well at lesdt here the guys get sacked i know in other places the result would have been something elsr .but here a question raise . if she had no problem herself why she didn't cut the line and talked for more than half an hour with the guy.

It is called work place politics. You take your time and record things for later use to benefit yourself. It happens all the time everywhere.

 

[CHI RULES]

Do you know what would it take for us Iranians to change our views towards Pakistan or other countries forever? Believe me, it wouldn't take much, the excuses are more than enough, but it's too stupid and arrogant to judge a whole country based on individual acts, which is exactly what you did here.

Sorry Sir historically at least after Shahs era Iran govt towards Pak remained hostile especially ag Sunni pop,same way as KSA is hostile ag Shias. Good thing is at least in Pak majority of Muslims are no divided on sectarian lines and know difference between sect and religion.
By saying that if a country claims to be Islamic should have transparent judicial system for all.
We as Muslims are losing our moral/religious values.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

This happens all over the world. In Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India, it happens more frequently.

 

[EAK]

Do you know what would it take for us Iranians to change our views towards Pakistan or other countries forever? Believe me, it wouldn't take much, the excuses are more than enough, but it's too stupid and arrogant to judge a whole country based on individual acts, which is exactly what you did here.

no i don't know.. but plz do tell me..i am anxious ..Secondly have you watched the video before replying .. its not an individual act .. what girl said about country..and what happened to her.. its pretty sick..if you are trying to justify it by saying ohh you are this and that.. well then dear thats so childish argument ..if willing to do so again then plz don't quote me.. and by the way i had a nice perception about iranian moral values but this was an eye opener.

 

[Serpentine]

no i don't know.. but plz do tell me..i am anxious ..Secondly have you watched the video before replying .. its not an individual act .. what girl said about country..and what happened to her.. its pretty sick..if you are trying to justify it by saying ohh you are this and that.. well then dear thats so childish argument ..if willing to do so again then plz don't quote me.. and by the way i had a nice perception about iranian moral values but this was an eye opener.

There are thousands of Pakistani nationals who have joined terrorist groups, hence as an eye opener, I should say, all Pakistani nationals and its society are terrorists. Does that sound nice to you? Because that's exactly what you are saying. It's your logic, hope you can swallow it.