Political Prisoner Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Continues Hunger Strike Amidst Deteriorating Health in Ghezel Hesar Prison

Political prisoner Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb persists in his hunger strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison, facing a decline in health.

A reliable source close to Ahmadi Ragheb confirmed his unwavering commitment to the hunger strike, revealing alarming symptoms such as low blood pressure, lethargy, and diminishing consciousness. The severity of his condition is evident, with his palm turning blue. Despite his deteriorating health, prison officials remain unresponsive to his demands, while judicial authorities have initiated two new legal cases, accusing him of propaganda against the regime.

The source stated that Ahmadi Ragheb initiated the hunger strike in protest against these legal charges and the increasing number of executions. His concerns have been met with indifference from the prison administration.

Ahmadi Ragheb’s arrest took place in March 2023, leading to his incarceration in Evin Prison. In May 2023, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran imposed a five-year and eight-month prison sentence along with additional penalties. Notably, five years of this term are currently enforceable.

In September of the same year, he, along with several other political prisoners, was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. Ahmadi Ragheb has a history of previous convictions and imprisonments due to his commitment to peaceful activism. The current hunger strike underscores his continued resistance against perceived injustices and an appeal for attention to his grievances.

Thirteen Political Prisoners from Qezel Hesar Prison Moved to Undisclosed Location

Thirteen political prisoners held at Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj were relocated to an undisclosed facility yesterday, September 20.

According to a source with ties to one of the prisoners’ families, relatives are in the dark about their current whereabouts.

On September 3, these prisoners were transferred from Evin Prison to Qezel Hesar. The next day, they embarked on a hunger strike to protest their move to this prison and heavily fortified and ill-equipped Unit 3.

During the transfer, some of these detainees were compelled to leave behind essential items, including medications. Their families and advocates express growing concerns about their welfare.

The prisoners include:

Saeed Masouri: Arrested on January 8, 2001, on charges related to alleged membership in The People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) in Dezful County. Initially sentenced to death, his punishment was later commuted to life imprisonment in 2002.

Afshin Baymani: Arrested on September 5, 2000. He was sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court for “enmity against God through collaboration with the MEK.” Later, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Hamza Savari Laftah: Arrested on September 2, 2005, at the age of 16. The Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz sentenced him to death on charges of “spreading corruption on Earth, enmity against God, and acting against national security.” Ultimately, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Motaleb Ahmadian: Arrested on October 5, 2010, and subsequently sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court for “enmity against God through membership in a political opposition party.”

Saman Seydi (Yasin): Arrested on October 2, 2022, during nationwide protests in Tehran. Initially sentenced to death for “enmity against God, and assembly and collusion against national security” by the Public and Revolutionary Court in Tehran. However, his sentence was later overturned by the Supreme Court, and his case was referred back to the lower court for further review.

Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb: Arrested in March 2023 and incarcerated in Evin Prison. The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years and eight months in prison, with five years enforceable, along with additional penalties.

Ahmadreza Haeri: Arrested by security forces on June 27, 2022, and subsequently released. He was later sentenced to three years and eight months in prison by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Recently, due to a new case filed against him during his imprisonment, he received an additional three months and one day in prison by the Criminal Court in Tehran.

Kamyar Fakour: Arrested on November 6, 2022, during nationwide protests. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to eight months in prison, in addition to reactivating his prior eight-month suspended jail term.

Reza Salmanzadeh: Arrested by security forces at his residence on May 12, 2022. He was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Jafar Ebrahimi: A dedicated teacher union activist, arrested on April 30, 2022, and incarcerated in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. In late October 2022, the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued a four-year sentence on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional one-year term for “propaganda against the regime.” Moreover, Ebrahimi received a two-year ban on leaving the country and from participating in political and civil organizations. His sentence, which included four years of enforceable imprisonment, was upheld upon appeal.

Lughman Aminpour, Sepehr Imam Jomeh, and Masoud-Reza Ebrahimi Nejad were previously sentenced to imprisonment for political charges.

Report on the Current Status of Thirteen Political Prisoners Detained in Qezel Hesar Prison

Thirteen political prisoners have embarked on a hunger strike to protest their transfer from Evin Prison to Qezel Hesar on September 3, as well as the dire conditions they now endure in their new confinement.

A source familiar with the situation, closely connected to one of these detainees’ families, informed HRANA, “This group of prisoners initiated their hunger strike on Monday, September 4, in protest of their relocation to a heavily secured and inadequately equipped Unit 3.”

Another relative of these detainees added, “They are confined to a cramped 12-square-meter cell within the Quarantine Ward, typically reserved for inmates on death row prior to execution. They lack basic necessities such as blankets, access to hot water, and the ability to make phone calls.”

As per this source, Unit 3 is currently overcrowded, housing around 1700 inmates, far exceeding its maximum capacity of 1000 inmates. The inmates’ access to fresh air is constrained by a small prison yard covered by a roof with fencing. During their transfer, some of these prisoners were forced to leave behind essential belongings, including their medications.
Some of these prisoners forcibly leave behind some of their belongings during the transfer including medicines.

The prisoners include:

  • Saeed Masouri: Arrested on January 8, 2001, on charges related to alleged membership in The People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) in Dezful County. Initially sentenced to death, his punishment was later commuted to life imprisonment in 2002.
  • Afshin Baymani: Arrested on September 5, 2000. He was sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court for “enmity against God through collaboration with the MEK.” Later, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
  • Hamza Savari Laftah: Arrested on September 2, 2005, at the age of 16. The Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz sentenced him to death on charges of “spreading corruption on Earth, enmity against God, and acting against national security.” Ultimately, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
  • Motaleb Ahmadian: Arrested on October 5, 2010, and subsequently sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court for “enmity against God through membership in a political opposition party.”
  • Saman Seydi (Yasin): Arrested on October 2, 2022, during nationwide protests in Tehran. Initially sentenced to death for “enmity against God, and assembly and collusion against national security” by the Public and Revolutionary Court in Tehran. However, his sentence was later overturned by the Supreme Court, and his case was referred back to the lower court for further review.
  • Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb: Arrested in March 2023 and incarcerated in Evin Prison. The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years and eight months in prison, with five years enforceable, along with additional penalties.
  • Ahmadreza Haeri: Arrested by security forces on June 27, 2022, and subsequently released. He was later sentenced to three years and eight months in prison by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Recently, due to a new case filed against him during his imprisonment, he received an additional three months and one day in prison by the Criminal Court in Tehran.
  • Kamyar Fakour: Arrested on November 6, 2022, during nationwide protests. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to eight months in prison, in addition to reactivating his prior eight-month suspended jail term.
  • Reza Salmanzadeh: Arrested by security forces at his residence on May 12, 2022. He was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
  • Jafar Ebrahimi: A dedicated teacher union activist, arrested on April 30, 2022, and incarcerated in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. In late October 2022, the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued a four-year sentence on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional one-year term for “propaganda against the regime.” Moreover, Ebrahimi received a two-year ban on leaving the country and from participating in political and civil organizations. His sentence, which included four years of enforceable imprisonment, was upheld upon appeal.
  • Lughman Aminpour, Sepehr Imam Jomeh, and Masoud-Reza Ebrahimi Nejad were previously sentenced to imprisonment for political charges.

Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Sentenced to over Five Years and Additional Punishments

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency- In a recent development, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, a civil rights activist currently detained in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to five years and eight months of imprisonment along with additional penalties by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

The verdict issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court states that Ahmadi Ragheb has been sentenced to five years for charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Furthermore, he has been subjected to restrictions, including a ban on engaging in civil and political activities, using a cell phone, and traveling abroad for a period of two years.
If the verdict is upheld during the appeal process, in accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the initial count of five years in prison will be enforced.

An informed source, speaking with HRANA, revealed that “Previously, Ahmadi Ragheb had refused to attend the court due to being subjected to handcuffs and ankle cuffs during the transfer. Yesterday, he was brought to the court with handcuffs and informed that the verdict had been issued in absentia as he had been absent from the court proceedings on three occasions.”

The source further added, “Following the reception of this verdict, Ahmadi Ragheb has requested a retrial. It is important to note that he has been facing these legal actions based on a complaint filed by an IRGC official.”

On February 3, 2023, Ahmadi Ragheb was released from Rajai Shahr prison after completing his previous sentence. However, in March 2023, he was re-arrested during a protest against poison attacks on schools and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

 

 

Prisoners in the Great Tehran Penitentiary Facing Delay and Difficulties in Receiving Medical Care

The Great Tehran Penitentiary officials regularly delay the issuance of permits for medical treatment, putting prisoners’ health at risk. This report sheds light on the violation of prisoners’ health-related rights in this prison and the negative impacts on inmates’ health conditions.

An inmate, recently freed from this prison, explained to HRANA the lengthy process of requesting a permit for medical care: “to receive a permit for medical care, the prison infirmary physician has to deliver a request letter to the Judgement Enforcement Unit. If approved, this unit sends a request letter to Judicial Deputy and the latter to the assistant prosecutor. This process takes a long time resulting in the exacerbation of inmates’ health condition and subsequent denial of medical treatment.”

“In addition to the long process, sometimes the request letters were missing, which frequently happens during the correspondence among prison officials,” another inmate stated.

Asadollah Hadi, Davood Razavi, Shahriar Bayat and Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb are among the inmates who suffered medical issues due to the prison officials’ delays and impediments.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, in recent days, political prisoner Asadollah Hadi was taken to the prison infirmary. Despite that, only after many twists and turns did the prison officials agree to dispatch him to a hospital outside the prison. Hadi has 60% physical disability and underwent heart surgeries during the last few years. Nonetheless, prison officials still delay medical treatments.

Another inmate, 20-year-old Amir-Hossein Ghena’atgar, who was arrested during the nationwide protests, is in poor health condition and has been denied medical care. In this regard, an informed source told HRANA, “he has been injured in eyes, neck, arm and chest by pellet guns. Despite having an infection from the pellets still in his body, he has been denied adequate medical care.”

In 2022, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 4,322 deprivation of medical care and 20 deaths due to illness.

According to Articles 102 and 113 of the Executive Regulations of the Iranian Prisons Organization, the prison infirmary is obliged to perform the medical examination of prisoners at least once a month, which in practice happens rarely. Also, in a case where medical treatment is not possible inside prison, with permission from the head of the prison and supervising judge, the inmate can be dispatched to a hospital as soon as possible. The rules unfortunately do not exempt emergency cases from the judge’s permission, causing unnecessary delays and jeopardizing the inmate’s lives.

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Report on the Release of Prisoners in the Last 24 Hours

In the past 24 hours, several prisoners of conscience were released from different prisons across Iran. Although details of these releases are still unknown, they are likely released under recent approval to “pardon and commute” the sentence of some prisoners.

Of these pardoned prisoners, the most known prisoners are:

  1. Film Director Mohammad Rasoulof from Evin Prison
  2. Azerbaijani (Turk) activist Akbar Naeimi from Evin Prison
  3. Gonabadi Dervish Mostafa Abdi from Evin Prison
  4. Political prisoner Forough Taghipour from Evin Prison
  5. Women rights activist Maryam Mohammadi from Evin Prison
  6. Women rights activist Asrin Darkaleh from Evin Prison
  7. Political prisoner Kazem Alinejad Baraloo Evin Prison
  8. Farshad Ahmadi from Evin Prison
  9. Political prisoner Khadijeh Mehdipour from Ilam Prison
  10. Mahsa Mohammadi from Isfahan Prison
  11. Tohid Goreishi from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  12. Worker’s rights activist Esmail Gerami from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  13. Political prisoner Mojtaba Tavakol from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  14. Shahrooz Ramezan Afshar from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  15. Mehdi Abbaspour from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  16. Civil rights activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  17. Soheila Ojaghi from Qarchak Prison, Varamin

Moreover, the legal cases against Milad Alavi,(journalist), Elham Sayrafi and Amir Sheibani Zaveh were closed without further legal proceedings.

Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.

Activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Sentenced to One Year Imprisonment

Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar sentenced civil rights activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb to one year imprisonment. Ahmadi Ragheb is currently detained in The Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in a trial in absentia, activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb was sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Mr Ahmadi Ragheb has faced another lawsuit brought by the Ferdosiye City Municipality and the cleric Rasoul Sharifian. On October 3, 2020,  Branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court held the first court session”. During the trial, Ragheb signing a petition to ask the Supreme Leader Khamenei to step down was presented as evidence to support the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

On February 21, security forces arrested Ragheb at his home. He was held for ten days in Evin Prison and then transferred to The Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary where he has been detained.

Ragheb is a firefighter who was fired after 17 years for his civic activities. 

An Overview on Eleven Prisoner Hunger Strikes in Various Prisons

In recent weeks, at least 11 detained or imprisoned citizens went on hunger strike in various prisons in protest against a failure to address their concerns.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, at least eleven prisoners in various prisons across the country are on hunger strike.

This report outlines their latest conditions:

Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb: On February 21, this civil activist was arrested at his house and transferred to Evin Prison. He has been on hunger strike since his arrest. On February 28, 2022, he was sent to a solitary confinement cell.

On March 2, he was transferred to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, where prisoners of violent crimes are held. During the arrest, security agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. Ragheb is a firefighter with 17 years of work experience who was fired from his job due to his civil activities.

Fariba Asadi: On February 27, this political prisoner went on hunger strike in Qarchak Prison following a quarrel and beating by a fellow inmate to protest against being held in the same ward as prisoners of violent crimes.

On January 3, she was arrested at her house and sent to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City to serve her sentence.

On December 12, 2021, she was summoned by the Executive Unit of the Qods Public and Revolutionary Court to endure her sentence. Earlier, along with three other defendants, she was sentenced to one year imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Arsham (Mahmood) Rezai: On February 7, the civil activist, who is jailed in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj City, went on hunger strike to protest against a failure to receive adequate medical treatment and refusal to grant him medical furlough. On February 27, the twenty-second day of his hunger strike, his weight had dropped to 52 kilograms and his blood pressure was critically low. He also suffers from a hiatal hernia, an Helicobacter pylori infection and a duodenal ulcer, which have worsened his health during the hunger strike.

Rezai was arrested on January 7, 2019 by security forces. On November 13 of that year, he was released on bail for 200 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings. On February 26, 2019, the Islamic Revolutionary Court sentenced Rezai, without informing his attorney that the court session was taking place, to eight years and six months imprisonment on charges of “propaganda against the regime”, “collusion against national security”, and “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran”. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of five years was enforceable. On January 20, the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to an additional 15 months in prison on new charges (which was later reduced to 11 months on appeal) and 4 months penal labor for the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad.

Mohammad Hooshangi: On February 23, Hooshangi went on hunger strike to protest his long-term detention in Urmia Prison. On March 7, he ended his hunger strike after prison officials promised to change bail from 7 billion to 2 billion tomans. In January of 2021, Hooshangi was arrested in Tehran and transferred to a detention centre at disposal of IRGC in Urmia City. Ultimately, after 7 months, he was relocated to Urmia Prison. He was charged with “membership in an anti-regime political groups”.

Ali Musa-Nejad Farkoosh: Since February 1, this civil activist, currently jailed in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj City, has been on hunger strike and refuses to take medicine as a way of demanding freedom for political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

He suffers from diseases such as a hiatal gastric hernia and intestinal diverticulum. On February 27, after twenty-seven days on hunger strike, he had critically low blood pressure and an extreme weight loss of 13 kilograms.

He was granted medical furlough but was forced to return to prison on October 27, 2021 without completing treatment. Earlier, Forensic Medicine in Karaj City confirmed that he suffers from acute diseases that require surgery.

In June 2019, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Moghayeseh, sentenced Farkoosh to eight years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, “an offensive statement against the current and former supreme leaders of Iran” and “propaganda against the regime”. This verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of Tehran’s Court of Appeals. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of five years on the count of “assembly and collusion” is enforceable.

On November 29, 2020, he was sent to Rajai Shahr Prison to serve his sentence.

Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani: On February 12, Hamedani went on hunger strike in Marivan Prison to protest against the relocation of him and his son to Sanandaj Prison. Earlier, on January 24, this political prisoner refused to take his medicine in protest, leading to severe hyperglycemia.

He and his son were transferred from Urmia Prison to Marivan and Kamyaran prisons, respectively.

On February 23, 2019, Hamedani was arrested alongside along his son Salar and daughter Maryam Seddigh. He was transferred to Urmia Central Prison on April 23, 2019. Maryam Seddigh Hamedani was released from prison on April 25, 2019.

Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia sentenced both men to 16 years imprisonment on charges such as “acting against national security through membership in an anti-regime organization” and “propaganda against the regime”.

In August of 2020, while serving their sentences, they were relocated to the detention centre of the Ministry of Intelligence in Urmia City and interrogated for allegedly spreading “propaganda against the regime inside prison”. Subsequently, a new legal case was opened against them and they were sentenced to an additional 11 months in prison.

Yousef Mehrad: The prisoner of conscience, who is jailed in Arak Prison, has been accused and condemned for blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam. On February 10, he went on hunger strike to protest the prohibition of phone calls. His latest condition since his hunger strike is unknown.

His lawyer, Mohammad Arman, announced that Mehrad has been sentenced to death for one charge and eight years in prison for the other by the Revolutionary Court of Arak. His court-appointed lawyer called the confirmation of this verdict by the Supreme Court unjust, and asserted that his client must be exonerated.

Previously, HRANA reported about this case, wherein two defendants, Sadrollah Fazeli Zare and Yousef Mehrad, were sentenced to death for “blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam” by Arak’s Revolutionary Court. In another trial, Mehrad was sentenced to 8 years in prison for “offensive statements against the current and formers supreme leader of Iran”.

On May 24, 2020, security forces arrested him at his house in Ardabil City. He was transferred to Arak Prison and was detained for two months in a solitary confinement cell. For eight months, he was not allowed to call his family and was denied family visitation. He is the father of three children.

Shakila Monfared: This political prisoner has been on hunger strike in Qarchak Prison in Varamin City since March 3.

She has gone on hunger strike to protest the housing of political prisoners in the same ward as prisoners of violent crime, the irresponsibility of prison officials towards her safety and a recent threat from a fellow inmates.

An informed source told HRANA that a prisoner of violent crimes threatened her with a sharpened piece of can and intended to injure her.

There is no further info about her condition since she was relocated to Ward 8 of the prison.

On August 31, 2020, security forces arrested Monfared while she was leaving her home. They transferred her to a detention centre at the disposal of the IRGC in Tehran. Reportedly, they did not have a warrant for this arrest.

On September 9 of last year, she was relocated to the quarantine section of the women’s ward of Evin Prison. On September 14, she was released on bail of 400 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.

In January of this year, the joint court trial of Shakila Monfared, Arsham Rezaei, and Mohammad Abolhassani was held in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. 27-year-old Monfared was sentenced to 6 years in prison and 4 months of probation work in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda activities against the system” and “insulting the sanctities of Islam”.

In addition to the mentioned-above political prisoners and imprisoned civil activists, at least three other prisoners, Habibollah Miraki, Loghman Mamandi and Loghman Abdolllahzadeh, went on hunger strike in Kamyaran Prison to protest the refusal of prison officials to grant furlough. Abdolllahzadeh has been on hunger strike since last Sunday, and the first two prisoners since yesterday.

In Iran’s prisons, hunger strikes are common among prisoners despite causing long-term physical and mental impairment. Hunger strikes are used as a last resort to achieve urgent demands such as unlawful long-term detention without trials, violations of prisoners’ rights and infringement in due process.

Detained Civil Activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Still on Hunger Strike

Detained Civil Activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb has been on hunger strike since his arrest on February 21. Last Monday, he was sent to a solitary confinement cell in Evin Prison. Yesterday, he was transferred to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, yesterday, in blatant violation of prison rules, they sent him to Ward 4 of the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, where the prisoners of violent crimes are held.

An informed source told HRANA that his health condition is poor and so far, he has not received any medical treatment.

On February 21, security forces arrested him at his home. They searched the house and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

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.

However, 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 is a firefighter with 17 years of work experience who was fired from his work due to his civil activities.

Civil Activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Arrested

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.