BBG Watch Commentary

Sheema Kalbasi, who tweets as @IranianWoman, is a U.S.-based Iranian poet, filmmaker, rights activist who had worked for UNHCR and Center for Refugees in Pakistan and UNA Denmark.

She is one of many pro-democracy Iranians banned in recent years by Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)-managed Voice of America’s (VOA) Persian Service and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Radio Farda because of their outspoken opposition to the Iranian regime.

These Iranian activists are hoping that the expected management change at the Broadcasting Board of Governors will result in lifting such bias, blacklisting and censorship. Yesterday, the White House announced President Trump’s intent to nominate Michael Pack as new BBG CEO. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Pack would replace Obama administration holdover CEO John F. Lansing.

Iranian human rights activists hope that the expected management change will lead to improvements at the U.S. taxpayer-funded media outlets which in a recent independent study commissioned by the BBG have been severely criticized for biased coverage of Iran.

Sheema Kalbasi tweeted:

 

 
“I look forward to seeing these US-funded Radio Farda and VOA will finally stand for democratic values and not be an instrument of Tehran’s propaganda. I have been blacklisted for several years now!”
 

 

 

 

ALSO SEE: Iran scholars criticize BBG, VOA, and Radio Farda management

 
and
 

ALSO SEE: Trump intends to nominate Michael Pack as CEO of Broadcasting Board of Governors EXCLUSIVE

 

Here are some other Iranian tweets (more can be viewed in Iran scholars criticize BBG, VOA, and Radio Farda management.

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

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