The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard is deeply concerned about claims being published by Iranian media, accusing journalist Farnaz Fassihi of spying. These statements are false and completely without merit.
A reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Fassihi spent the last academic year studying at Harvard University as a 2015 Nieman Fellow. We support her excellent work and join the staff at the Journal in condemning the misinformation being spread about her in Iran.
Gerard Baker, editor in chief of Dow Jones & Co., publisher of the Journal, said: “Ms. Fassihi is a highly accomplished, longtime Wall Street Journal senior writer who has reported fairly and accurately from the region for more than a decade…Her reporting has been a model of courageous, fair and high-impact journalism. She has repeatedly risked her life and safety from the front lines of wars and uprisings to document the truth, which make these scurrilous allegations all the more galling.”
In a statement, Fassihi added, “I have watched with horror and dismay as these false allegations against me have circulated in Iranian media. I am a journalist. My independence and reputation are sacred to me.”
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