TEHRAN, Jul. 03 (MNA) – An official with the public relations department at the Iranian Presidential Office has said that the French authorities have released the illegally detained journalist Bashri Biazar and he is not on the way home to Iran.

Director of Public Relations Department of the Presidential Office of Iran told local Iranian media that Bashir Biazar, who was illegally arrested and imprisoned in France a few weeks ago, has been released and is on his way back to his homeland."

It's been more than a month since Bashir Biazar, an acclaimed Iranian musician and filmmaker, was arrested and imprisoned in France over charges widely described as politically motivated.

In a chargesheet filed by the French interior ministry, a copy of which had been in the possession of Press TV, Biazar had been accused of “Iranian propaganda,” “anti-Zionism and anti-Americanism,” “hateful social media posts,” being a “vector of hatred,” and posing a “threat to public order in France.”

According to the Press TV website, human rights activists, officials, and Biazar’s family and friends have categorically rejected the charges as baseless and driven by the French government’s political motives against the Islamic Republic.

A detailed examination of the charges and Biazar’s social media activities, especially in recent months, makes it clear that the case against him is not based on merit but is politically motivated.

Born and raised in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Biazar is an independent music composer and filmmaker internationally acclaimed for his work.

He has previously served as managing director of the New Horizon Institute of Arts and Culture and was the secretary of the London-based Islamic Student Association.

For many years, he also worked as a production manager at the Music and Song Department of IRIB, Iran’s state broadcaster, and was behind many acclaimed works produced by the organization.

MNA