Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to Hassan Rouhani, President of Islamic Republic Iran expressed concern over the one year imprisonment to Isa Saharkhiz for “insulting the former president” and “defaming the head of the judiciary” on April 26.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter urged Iranian government to immediately release Saharkhiz and Iranian authorities should stop attacks on journalists and media freedom.

Prosecution of journalists and crack down on social media platforms by Iranian authorities are caused by the upcoming presidential election in Iran at the end of May this year.

According to International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Saharkhiz was released from imprisonment after serving 21 months under the allegations of “insulting Iranian officials” and “propaganda against the regime”. On April 26, he was sentenced to one year jail under the charges of “insulting the former president” and “defaming the head of the judiciary”.

His lawyer filed an appeal against the new conviction before the Tehran Province Court of Appeal.