On February 21, civil activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb was arrested at his home and was transferred to an unidentified location. Agents searched the house and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ragheb’s house was previously searched by security forces on July 7, 2021.

On June 15, 2020, Ragheb was arrested during an appearance at Branch 4 of Public and Revolutionary Court in Shahriar City to serve his nine month sentence in the Greater Tehran Prison. On January 15, 2021, he was released from jail after serving his sentence.

Following a complaint by the Ferdosiye City Municipality, a new legal case was opened against him by Branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. During the trial, a piece of evidence invoked to support this charge included proof that he had signed a petition asking the Supreme Leader of Iran to step down.

Ragheb has faced other arrests and convictions. He is a firefighter with 17 years of work experience who was fired from his work due to his civil activities.