Abolfazl Laal-Bahador, a journalist from Sabzevar and the administrator of the Telegram channel “Hezardastan,” has been sentenced to flogging, imprisonment, and exile. The case was initiated following a complaint by the mayor of Sabzevar against the journalist.
According to the verdict issued by Branch 103 of the Sabzevar Criminal Court, Laal-Bahador was convicted of “spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public order,” receiving a two-year prison sentence and a 50 million toman fine. For the charge of “insulting” the mayor of Sabzevar, he was sentenced to 90 lashes, and for “defamation,” he was fined 9.9 million tomans in favor of the government. Additionally, as a supplementary punishment, Laal-Bahador was ordered to serve two years of mandatory residence in the city of Semirom, Isfahan Province. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, only the most severe punishment in this case will be enforced.
The case was opened due to Laal-Bahador’s critical reports on the inefficiencies of the Sabzevar municipality, prompted by a complaint from the city’s mayor.
Abolfazl Laal-Bahador is a writer, social journalist, and the administrator of the “Hezardastan” Telegram channel. According to a report by the Defending of Free Flow of Information (DeFFI), at least 95 Iranian journalists and media outlets faced judicial and security actions in the first six months of 2025. During this period, at least 46 new judicial cases were filed against journalists and media, at least six journalists were detained, and in the trials held, Iranian journalists were collectively sentenced to 22 years and three months in prison and fines exceeding 50 million tomans.