Iranian Parliamentarian Ordered to Prison for Criticizing Parliamentary Speaker

A member of Iran’s parliament has been ordered to serve a 10-month prison sentence after a special religious court ruled against him for publishing criticism of the parliamentary speaker, according to multiple Iranian news outlets. The case marks a rare instance of judicial action against a sitting legislator and underscores internal tensions within Iran’s governing structures.

Hamid Rezaei was convicted on charges related to two separate incidents dating to 2023, before his election to parliament. The first involved publication of an article titled “Manipulation of Qalibaf in Parliamentary Documents” in the newspaper 9 Dey, and the second concerned a video clip shared on Rezaei’s Telegram channel in which he referred to the parliamentary speaker as a “dictator of the parliament,” according to reports from Iranian news agencies ^[1][2][3].

The Special Clerical Court in Tehran issued the conviction after Rezaei declined to apologize for the statements, according to the Judiciary’s official media outlet Mizan News Agency ^[3]. Rather than recant his criticism, Rezaei was summoned to begin serving his sentence at Evin Prison’s special clerical ward on October 5, 2026 ^[3].

The judicial decision reflects the Iranian system’s approach to criticism of high-ranking officials. The court framed the charges as “publishing falsehoods intended to harm others,” a legal formulation that has been applied in cases involving political speech ^[3]. The case originated during the previous administration but proceeded to enforcement under the current government.

International observers have noted the case as indicative of factional divisions within Iran’s post-Raisi political landscape. One analysis noted that the jailing of a hardline parliamentarian “exposes deep rifts” in the Iranian establishment, suggesting the conviction reflects broader internal power struggles rather than a unified state response ^[4].

The imprisonment of a serving legislator for critical speech is uncommon even within Iran’s political system, where parliament members typically enjoy some measure of protection. The case raises questions about the boundaries of permissible criticism within the Iranian state apparatus and the extent to which officials can be prosecuted for statements made before taking office.