Prosecutors in Iran are targeting a newspaper over its cartoon mocking internet restrictions

TEHRAN, Iran – An Iranian newspaper that suggested the public must muster the patience of the biblical figure Job to wait for President Masoud Pezeshkian to lift internet restrictions may now face criminal prosecution.

The reported case against the pro-reform newspaper Ham Mihan represents one of the first problems with media freedom under Pezeshkian, himself a reformer who has promised to soften police crackdowns on hijab-wearing women and improve relations with the West.

The semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Thursday that Tehran prosecutors had filed charges against the newspaper. It remains unclear what exact fines or penalties may be faced for publication, although some have been ordered to suspend publication in the past due to disputes with the Iranian theocracy.

The cartoon published on Wednesday showed Job standing in front of Cabinet spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani and asking: “Sorry, this filtering is not solved?” Iranians use this term to refer to the Internet restrictions that slow down foreign websites and those within the Iran’s so-called “halal network”.

In the cartoon, Mohajerani was seen replying: “No, be patient, it will be solved.”