Iranian Dissident Hossein Ronaghi Again Detained by Authorities

Political activist Hossein Ronaghi was detained by Iranian security forces during his Sunday night trip from Tabriz to Tehran, interrogated for several hours at Tabriz airport. 

"The initial reason given was carrying the emblem of Woman, Life, Freedom and the Lion and Sun. Then, unlawfully and without a warrant, they stated that the deputy prosecutor of Tabriz had ordered the confiscation of my mobile phone, laptop, electronic devices, and identity documents," he said. 

Ronaghi, an Iranian blogger, human rights activist, and political dissident, was arrested in September 2022 amid the uprising sparked by the death in morality police custody of Mahsa Amini. He was arrested along with his lawyers in front of the Evin Prison prosecutor's office and subsequently tortured. In protest, he went on a hunger strike.

Ronaghi, 37, has lost one kidney due to previous torture inflicted, with his second kidney now functioning at only 60 percent, according to human rights sources. Iranian authorities released Ronaghi on bail in November 2023, but he has been subjected to consistent harassment from the authorities since then. 

He has been arrested and jailed multiple times over the past 13 years, first detained in 2009 for his involvement in the post-election protests.