An Iranian TV news anchor has been forced to flee her home country, after she revealed she was being sexually harassed by her two TV bosses.
Sheena Shirani exposed the ongoing harassment she suffered at the hands of her boss at Press TV and news director Hamid Reza Emadi by uploading messages and a recording of a phone conversation where she was begged for sex to her social media channels.
Shirani claimed she has been harassed for several years while working at the Iranian news channel from 2007 to January 2016 as an editor, producer and news presenter.
Confiding in Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad about the ongoing exploitation in her workplace, Shirani explained that while she initially ignored her boss’ advances, he then “instructed all his employees to make regular complaints about [her behaviour]” for and “threatened to punish” those who ignored his warning.
According to
The Independent, Shirani started getting reprimanded for being ‘a second late’ or wearing short heels, so contacted her supervisor, Mr Emadi.
However, during a telephone recording posted online, Emadi is reportedly heard asking the news anchor to have sex with him:
“I’ve always helped you. I’ve always been there for you. Whenever you wanted something, I’ve helped you. I’m not asking you to kill someone. You can help me as a friend. You can have sex with me as a friend.”
An anonymous former Press TV reporter told IranWire:
“I can confirm the authenticity of the recording. It’s not a fake. I know both of them and both their voices and it’s definitely them.”
According to IranWire, Shirani has now been forced to flee the country with her son.
Lead Image:
Sheena Shirani/ Facebook