“Hazrati retaliated by apparently using a pseudonym to publish a response in the same publication, branding Imami’s review “insulting” and “partial”. Alipour came to Imami’s defence, questioning the official’s photography credentials and exposing the identity behind the pseudonym. Hazrati then filed a suit against the two men. A Qazvin court found them guilty of insulting the official and sentenced them to be lashed, local media reported……. There have been similar cases in Iran. In 2012, cartoonist Mahmoud Shokraye was found guilty of insulting an MP, for which he was given a sentence of 25 lashes. The MP eventually withdrew his complaint after the case prompted widespread outrage………..”

Cheers
Mohammed Haider Ghuloum