News story

UK appalled by sentencing of cartoonist in Iran

The UK urges Iran to respect the right to freedom of expression after cartoonist Mahmoud Shokraye was sentenced 25 lashes.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Published: 11 May 2012

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

An FCO spokesperson said:

“We are appalled to hear that the Iranian authorities have sentenced the cartoonist Mahmoud Shokraye to 25 lashes for nothing more than depicting an Iranian MP in a cartoon. Charges should never have been brought at all for this innocuous act, but it is sadly not surprising given the government has consistently shown such flagrant disregard for its citizens rights and freedoms. We urge Iran to respect the right to freedom of expression in all its forms and revoke this sentence.”

Published 11 May 2012