Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 27 /Trend T.Konyayeva/
Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, condemns the recent arrest of six independent film-makers in Iran, the official statement reads.
"The High Representative condemns the recent arrest in Iran of six documentary film-makers, who are accused of working for the BBC Persian service, and calls for their immediate release," the statement says.
Ashton is equally concerned at reports of harassment of several other people alleged to have links with the BBC Persian service, the statement says.
"The High Representative calls on the Iranian authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression in line with their international human rights obligations and to stop the systematic prosecution and intimidation of journalists and artists," the statement added.
On Sept. 27, Iran arrested six independent film makers whose work was screened by the BBC, but the broadcatser denied they were staff employees.
Earlier, Iran has blocked BBC's activities, accusing the corporation of provoking the protest movement after the disputed presidential elections in 2009.
The Iranian Intelligence Ministry issued a statement reading that the members of the network provided the BBC with "propaganda subjects to be exploited in psychological warfare by the enemies of Iran and Islam".
The statement noted that the members of the network, some of whom have been arrested, carried out destructive activities against Iran commissioned by the BBC through illegal underground activities in return for massive sums of money.
BBC does not have an office in Tehran.