Iranian journalist and political activist Issa Saharkhiz was arrested on Monday at his home in Tehran.
Mehdi Saharkhiz, the detained journalist’s son, reported his father’s arrest in a Twitter message, saying a woman and six male Revolutionary Guards arrived at his home on Monday November 2 at 7 AM with an arrest warrant. They searched the house and confiscated a number of his belongings.
He is reportedly charged with propaganda against the regime and insulting the leader.
According to Mehdi Saharkhiz, the detained journalist began a hunger strike from the moment he was arrested.
Saharkhiz was first arrested following the 2009 election protests and sentenced to three years in jail for security charges. In 2011, the sentence was increased to five years.
He was hospitalized on several occasions during his imprisonment due to severe health complications and was finally released in 2013.
He has on several occasions spoken out against the mistreatment of political prisoners by Islamic Republic authorities.
Saharkhiz served as the head of media relations for the Ministry of Culture during the reformist government of Mohammad Khatami.
Ehsan Mazandarani, former parliamentary correspondent and editor of Farhikhtegan daily, was also reportedly arrested on Monday morning.
