In a report by BBC Persian, the report used concerning terminology regarding the Kurds. The report, which covers Iran’s warnings to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, refers to Kurdish political groups as “separatist groups.” The terminology can be found in this post:

https://x.com/bbcpersian/status/2029943666710601957

This language mirrors the political rhetoric of the Iranian government, which systematically labels all Kurdish opposition as “separatist” to delegitimize them. In reality, most Kurdish political parties explicitly advocate for federalism, regional autonomy, or democratic reform within the framework of Iran, rather than secession. By repeating the term “separatist” without contextualizing it as the Iranian government's specific narrative, the BBC risks compromising its impartiality and misleading its global audience.
Furthermore, the article describes the activities of these groups as being “against Iran” (Persian: علیه ایران) rather than against the Iranian government or its policies. This framing dangerously conflates opposition to a regime with hostility toward a country and its people, potentially inciting nationalistic resentment against the Kurdish population.
Given the volatile security environment, we respectfully urge the BBC to:
• Clarify the context in which the term “separatist” is used.
• Ensure the political platforms of the Kurdish parties (e.g., federalism/democracy) are accurately represented.
• Distinguish between "opposition to the government" and "actions against the country" in future reporting.
The BBC is globally respected for its accuracy. Please sign this petition to ensure BBC will take this matter seriously to maintain those high editorial standards!