Rouhani's Advisor Calls for Emergency Meeting of the Broadcasting Council

Following reports regarding the suspension of two employees of 'Press TV' on charges of sexual harassment against a presenter of the network and the departure of the advisor to the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) from the country, Hesameddin Ashna, advisor and representative of the President in the IRIB Supervisory Council, has called for an 'extraordinary' meeting of this council. According to IRNA, the advisor to Rouhani stated on Tuesday, February 9, that 'Given the recent issues that have arisen in the IRIB, the interview of the head of this organization, and the editorial of yesterday's Jam-e Jam newspaper, holding a meeting of the Supervisory Council of this organization is essential.' The President's representative in the IRIB Supervisory Council emphasized the need for 'an extraordinary meeting to review the aforementioned issues and make appropriate decisions.' Ashna's reference to the Jam-e Jam editorial and the writing of the head of the documentary network regarding Shahrzad Mirgholikhani, the advisor to the head of IRIB, was on Tuesday. Previously, Mohammad Sarafraz, the head of IRIB, had stated in an interview with Jam-e Jam newspaper that 'a security apparatus' within Iran had 'unreasonably' confronted Shahrzad Mirgholikhani, his former advisor, and had asked her to leave the country. Although Sarafraz did not name this security apparatus, Mirgholikhani stated in a post on her Facebook that agents of the IRGC had asked her to leave the country. According to Jam-e Jam, Mirgholikhani, a former prisoner in the U.S., had been working in the international section of 'Press TV' and was appointed as an advisor after Sarafraz's appointment as head of IRIB. In this context, Amir Tajik, head of the documentary network, wrote in an article in Jam-e Jam on Tuesday that Mirgholikhani's report regarding 'unjustified embezzlement of the organization's budget' was the reason for the issues that arose for her. Tajik stated that Mirgholikhani has been accused of 'spying' for the U.S. through Oman. In recent days, an audio file attributed to Hamidreza Emadi, the news director of 'Press TV', and Shina Shirani, a presenter of this television, has been circulated on social media, revealing 'possible sexual harassment' of this presenter by her senior manager. Shirani confirmed the authenticity of this audio file in a video published by the 'Rooz Online' website. Following the widespread reaction to this audio file and Shirani's interview with foreign media, the public relations department of 'Press TV' stated on Tuesday, February 19, to the state news agency IRNA that 'due to the importance of the subject, the relevant officials are addressing it and determining the validity of these claims, and until the complete results of the investigations are clarified, these two have been suspended.' 'Press TV' also emphasized that 'the audio file has no legal or judicial validity, and no complaint has been filed so far.' This television network has stated on one hand that it is pursuing the subject of this audio file and on the other hand has emphasized that 'the publication of this audio file is suspicious, involving individuals opposed to the regime and politically exploited without filing a complaint with multiple legal authorities within the country.' The public relations department of Press TV added: 'Naturally, it was expected that anyone making a claim and seeking redress would reflect the matter to legal authorities before presenting it to public opinion and the virtual space, rather than engaging in news-making and scenario-building.' Shina Shirani, who was a news presenter for this English-language network, after leaving Iran, described her working experiences at 'Press TV' in a film published by 'Rooz Online', claiming: 'The problem I had with many of the gentlemen I worked with there was not a one-day or two-day issue.' Hamidreza Emadi, along with Mohammad Sarafraz, who was appointed by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran to head IRIB in November 2014, are listed among human rights violators and are on the European Union's sanctions list.