Journalism is Not a Crime: Mahmoud Shokraie

Citizen journalists, writers, activists and artists are routinely arrested and jailed in Iran for the simple crime of speaking out. Although some of the more dramatic stories occasionally hit the headlines, we rarely hear about these people's detentions or see their names published in English. IranWire's sister project Journalism is Not a Crime aims to change that, highlighting their stories and work, until the day when none of us know the names of journalists behind bars in Iran — because they have all been set free.

Mahmoud Shokraie [Freed]

Sex:

Male

Court’s Ruling:

25 lashes of the whip, which was later repealed

Current Status:

Freed

Professional Record:

Cartoonist

Charged With:

Publishing obscene images

Mahmoud Shokraie is a cartoonist for the Nameh Amir publication, which is run by Abolfazl Nik, and published in Markazi Province. Shokraie was sentenced to 25 lashes of the whip for drawing a caricature of Ahmad Lotfi Ashtiani, a conservative member of parliament for Arak, Komijan and Khandab, in a footballer’s outfit.

Following Ashtiani’s complaints at the caricature, a court presided over by Judge Adalatkhah, head of the Markazi Province media court, tried Mahmoud Shokraie and found him guilty of “publishing obscene images.” But the court’s jury believed that Shokraie deserved a reduction in his punishment – leading to the sentence of lashes. Shokraie was informed of this initial sentence in May 2012.

Following the publication of the sentence, a number of protests were staged by the Iranian cartoonist community. Mana Neyestani, a well-known cartoonist, asked other Iranian cartoonists to draw a caricature of Ahmad Lofti Ashtiani to express sympathy for and solidarity with Mahmoud Shokraie.

More than 120 Iranian journalists signed a letter addressed to the heads of the Iranian judiciary and legislature in which they referred to the imprisonment of Iranian journalists and the Shokraie’s conviction. The letter also demanded that the Iranian government preserve the “sanctity of the pen.”

Amnesty International also said the sentence issued against Shokraie was a new example of the Islamic Republic's “relentless attacks” on freedom of expression, noting that “whipping is a cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment, and it is for this reason that it is forbidden in international law.”

The Attorney General's Office in Markazi Province referred Shokraie’s case back to the media court in July 2012.

The Media Branch of the Criminal Courts of Markazi Province, presided over by Judge Adalatkhah, announced in October 2012 that the court “did not find the drawing of the cartoon to be insulting, but rather the court considered it to be a satirical critique of some of the actions of an official [Mr Ashtiani]. As such, Mahmoud Shokraie has been acquitted of this accusation.”

The court ruled that this acquittal had been issued “in spite of the jury's opinion that the accused [Mr Shokraie] was a criminal” and that the plaintiff was still able to file a complaint against the judgment. But a few days later, Fars News Agency reported that Ashtiani had withdrawn his complaint.

The Markazi Province media court nevertheless announced that they would submit an appeal to Iran’s Supreme Court.