According to received reports, in recent days Shahab Darabi, known as “Youz Asia”, a well-known truck driver and blogger, was sentenced by Branch Two of the Criminal Court of Eslamabad-e Gharb, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Hatamzadeh, to three years and one day of imprisonment.
Based on the verdict issued on August 19, 2025 (29 Mordad 1404), Mr. Darabi was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “spreading false information with the intent to disturb public opinion” and to three years and one day in prison on the charge of “insulting religious sanctities.” In accordance with subsections (b and th) of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment — three years and one day — will be enforceable.
This ruling is based on a case opened on July 21, 2025 (31 Tir 1404), by the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Eslamabad-e Gharb, citing reports from the Kermanshah Intelligence Organization of the IRGC and the Intelligence Office of Eslamabad-e Gharb. The court alleged that Shahab Darabi used his Instagram pages to “call for a nationwide truck drivers’ strike, incite violent actions against drivers who did not join the strike, spread videos and images disturbing public opinion, and insult holy shrines.”
The verdict can be contested within 20 days of its issuance in the same branch, and subsequently, within another 20 days, appealed in the Provincial Court of Appeals.
Mr. Darabi had previously been arrested on May 27, 2025 (6 Khordad 1404), at his private residence by security forces without a judicial warrant, for supporting the nationwide truck drivers’ strike. He was eventually released from prison on June 2, 2025 (12 Khordad 1404), after one week in detention.
During his detention, this citizen was reportedly subjected to severe psychological and physical pressure and coerced into making forced confessions against himself.