Reactions to the Exile of a Journalist; A Member of Parliament Calls 'Value-Oriented' Individuals 'Turnips'

Following the objection of the representative from 'Turbat Jam' to the exile sentence of Marzieh Mahmoudi (journalist) to this city, a Twitter war erupted between this principlist member of parliament and the virtual supporters of the ruling system known as 'value-oriented' in cyberspace. In early August, Marzieh Mahmoudi, editor of Tejarat News, reported that due to her statements about Hamid Rasai, she was sentenced to a fine of 24 million tomans and a one-year exile to Turbat Jam. Jalil Rahimi Jahangirabad, the representative of 'Turbat Jam, Taybad, Bakharz, and Salehabad' in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, reacted to this ruling in his tweet: 'An odd ruling has been announced in the news, and a female journalist has been sentenced to a fine and exile to Turbat Jam due to a complaint from a cleric. It has become clear that until now we were the criminals and in exile. We prefer to be in exile for the rest of our lives rather than be aligned with people like Rasai. My sister, you are welcome; Turbat Jam is a city of mysticism and faith.' This tweet did not sit well with the 'cyber army' of the regime, and users known as cyber activists responded in a coordinated manner to the parliament member's tweet, threatening him with dismissal and disqualification. In response to the attacks from the 'value-oriented' individuals, he referred to them as 'turnips' and wrote: 'I tweeted regarding the exile of a journalist to Turbat Jam and was attacked by the abusive value-oriented individuals. I wanted to emphasize that I proudly represent the people who do not even consider you value-oriented individuals as turnips. Now send it wherever you want; you extremists are the disgrace of this country, and we despise you and hold you responsible for the people's misery.' This member of the National Security Commission of the parliament did not stop there and, by publishing an image of a 'turnip,' wrote: 'I officially apologize to the turnip because it has useful properties, and you value-oriented individuals are the most useless beings in the world. Your job is abuse, destruction, extremism, and reading the funeral prayer for national interests and security.' Niloofar Hamidi in court: I take pride in my performance as a journalist. Hamid Rasai asked the judiciary to 'execute' Taraneh Alidoosti. A journalist in Iran told VOA: Government harassment and humiliation of journalists is 'systematic.' The acceleration of verbal degradation among the media and supporters of the regime amid the expansion of protests.