An Iranian lawmaker who had sued a cartoonist resulting in a lashing sentence, has withdrawn his complaints.

Mahmud Shokraye was sentenced to 25 lashes earlier this month over his depiction of conservative lawmaker Ahmad Lotfi Ashtiani as a football player.

Ashtiani is among politicians being criticized for interfering in sports.

The unprecedented punishment led to widespread condemnation inside and outside the country by Shokarye’s colleagues and human rights groups.

In a statement, a dozen Iran-based websites has condemned Shokraye’s sentence and noted that drawing cartoons of politicians is common in Iran.

With reporting by Fars and Mehr
Source : RFE/RL