IFJ condemns jail sentence of journalist in Iran

BRUSSELS, April 28 (KUNA) -- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned Friday the new jail sentence handed down on Wednesday to prominent Iranian journalist and political figure Isa Saharkhiz.
An IFJ press release noted that the journalist was released in November 2015 from prison after serving 21 months for "insulting Iranian officials" and "propaganda against the regime." Two days ago, he was sentenced to a one-year jail term after he was recently charged with "insulting the former president" and "insulting the head of the judiciary". IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said in a statement that "journalists all around the world will be celebrating World Press Freedom Day soon and their hearts and minds will be with Saharkhiz and their Iranian colleagues who have been enduring a campaign of fear and intimidations by the Iranian authorities." "There cannot be free and fair elections in Iran without freeing the media; the Iranian authorities should stop these attacks against the journalists and release Saharkhiz immediately," he added. The Brussels-based IFJ represents around 600,000 journalists in 140 countries worldwide. (end) nk.gb