This is an edited transcript of a telephone conversation between journalist Sheena Shirani and her boss, Hamid Reza Emadi, the senior editor at Press TV, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting’s international English-language channel.
Shirani: I’m angry with you.
Emadi: What did I do? I didn’t even touch your breasts. Your breasts drive me crazy, but I didn’t touch them.
Shirani: When I ask you to leave me alone —
Emadi: Did I do anything? Did I even touch you?
Shirani: You didn’t necessarily have to touch me —
Emadi [aggressively]: Did I touch you?
Shirani [sighing]: I don’t want to talk about it.
Emadi: I didn’t do anything to you. I didn’t touch you.
Could you do me a favour?
Shirani: What?
Emadi: Will you do it for me? I’m really desperate. Satisfy me.
Shirani: What does that have to do with me?
Emadi: It’s hurting me. My balls are bursting.
Shirani: It has nothing to do with me. I don’t want to hear it.
Emadi: See, I can’t make myself cum.
Shirani: It’s none of my business. Call someone else. What are you talking about? I’m working night shifts to be treated this way?
Emadi: What way? I’ve always helped you. I’ve always been there for you. Whenever you wanted something, I’ve helped you.
Shirani: That’s the sort of help one human being gives another human being.
Emadi: That’s exactly what I’m asking you to do as well. I’m not asking you to kill someone.
Shirani: I don’t want to do it.
Emadi: I beg you. I’m desperate. Just for five minutes.
Shirani: I can’t!
Emadi: See, but you can help me, as a friend. You can have sex with me as a friend. But you don’t. I could’ve hurt you, but I didn’t want to.
Shirani: Let me go to sleep now. I have to sleep for two or three hours, and then go pick up my son.
Emadi: Please!
Shirani: I can’t. Goodbye.
Emadi: Please, as a friend.
Shirani: You told me that you were sorry and you didn’t mean it and that you’ve helped me and so on. And now you’re calling me to say such things?
Emadi: I like you, that’s why. I beg you. I’m really not feeling well.
Shirani: Well, go to your wife.
Emadi: If I could get a wife, I wouldn’t ask you. [IranWire has not been able to establish if Emadi is married or not]
Shirani: It’s none of my business. That’s your personal life.
Emadi: Why are you so angry with me? I didn’t even touch you last night. I’m a man of my words.
Shirani: I need to go to sleep. It’s 8:15. [most likely AM, following her night shift)
Emadi: Me too. You can put me to sleep.
Shirani: It’s none of my business. I can’t and don’t want to do it.
Emadi: You’re angry with me. [in English] Why do you hate me so much?
Shirani [in English]: Why do I hate you so much? Because you make me hate you. What you’re doing is hurting me.
Emadi: What I did last night hurt you?
Shirani: It was against my will.
Emadi: I didn’t hurt you. I didn’t even touch you last night.
Shirani: You didn’t? Do you have to necessarily have to touch a certain place for it to count as touching?
Emadi: You mean touching your tummy over your clothes is considered touching?
Shirani: Of course! That’s my body.
Emadi: I didn’t even touch your breasts.
Shirani: I come to work for peace and security. To make a living. You can’t expect me to help with this particular need because I’ve been friends with you. I just want to work with you and consider you my colleague.
Emadi: I haven’t even come after you to your house. You can help me when I need you, but you don’t want to.
Shirani: I don’t want to help you sexually.
Emadi: I’ve always defended you.
Shirani: But I didn’t do anything wrong.
Emadi: Well, sometimes you were late, sometimes you didn’t your job well. And I defended you.
Shirani: Okay, please stop it. I don’t want to talk about it.
Emadi: I’m naked on the bed. Your body is so sexy. You don’t even understand. I can’t understand how stupid your ex-husband was to leave you. You’re amazingly sexy. And I’m not the only one saying that. You don’t appreciate the treasure you have. You drive me crazy even when I’m asleep. Crazy. I do my best to control my desire. I’m sure everyone feels that way. It’s as if you’re surrounded by a sexual halo. When you walk, you exude sex. And you don’t even know it. You’re amazingly hot. Will you satisfy me?
Shirani: No.
Emadi: I beg you! Do you want me to go down on my knees?
Shirani: You’re willing to ruin me for just one moment of pleasure?
Emadi: Will that one moment of pleasure ruin you?
Shirani: Yes, it will make me hate myself.
Emadi: But you’re happy with all the help that I give you?
Shirani If I can give you humanitarian help, I’ll be happy to do it.
Emadi: What I’m asking you is for humanitarian help.
Shirani: [in English]. It’s sexually objectifying me.
Emadi: I’m doing my best, but sometimes I get to the boiling point. I can’t help myself.
Shirani: It’s not my fault.
Emadi: Well, it’s your fault as well, because you have amazing breasts and lips. I die for your breasts.
Shirani: I need to go to sleep. Goodbye!
Emadi: My penis is exploding. Will you suck it?
Shirani: No. Goodbye!
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Asalamu alaikom from America. My right to speak to you as a Muslima, a woman, a mother, a grandmother and a human being. Ms. Shirani is my daughter and my sister. How dare you treat another human being in such a disgusting manner. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said the best among you is who treats his women best. We wome n of the world will not tolerate this kind of abuse any longer. I call for all households who love their women to boycott this station until ALL of those who have sexually harassed the female workers in your company are terminated from their positions.
Heaven is under your Mom's feet.
Ms. Shirani, I'm so proud if you, my brave and brilliant daughter. Hold your head high for your courage and grace under unbearable circumstances. You are a light and hope for women around the globe and Allah will bless you.
Mr. Emad, I suggest if your balls are causing you so much physical discomfort that your sanity and good judgement, even your very humanity is at stake, you should seriously consider voluntary castration. Lucky for you, your an ocean away because her brothers would be more than happy to teach you a lesson on respecting their sister. You owe a huge debt to my daughter for the anguish and torment you've heaped upon her.
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