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Hossein Ronaghi

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Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki
حسین رونقی ملکی
Hossein Ronaghi
Born (1985-07-04) 4 July 1985 (age 39)
Malekan, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran
NationalityIranian

Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki (Template:Lang-fa; born 4 July 1985) is an Iranian blogger and political dissident who was imprisoned in 2009 for his role in the post-election protests that erupted in Iran. He also wrote under the pen name "Babak Khorramdin".[1] Ronaghi was arrested again on 23 February 2022 after criticising a bill that would limit internet access in Iran ("Users Protection Bill").[2][3]

On 24 September 2022, he was arrested along with his lawyers by security agents in front of the Evin Prosecutor's Office and transferred to Evin prison where he was tortured and both of his legs broken.[4]

2009 Arrest

Ronaghi-Maleki was quietly arrested along with his brother Hassan on December 13, 2009, for renewing proxies that allowed journalists and political activists to circumvent the government's website bans following last year's contested presidential elections. He was also charged with insulting the leadership for his critical blog posts.[citation needed]

Although Ronaghi-Maleki suffers from heart and kidney problems, during his custody, the prison guards denied him medical treatment. When he went on a hunger strike to protest his maltreatment and torture, he was placed in solitary confinement.[5][6] Though his brother was released, scarred by beatings, Hossein Ronaghi's permanent release was not announced until June 2019.[7] He was under intense pressure to make a televised confession of his alleged wrongdoing. Ronaghi-Maleki was handed a 15-years long prison sentence.[8] Neither his lawyer nor his family were present for the verdict.[9][10][11][12][13]

In prison, Ronaghi developed a kidney disease and underwent at least four operations. More than 100 of Maleki's fellow prisoners wrote a letter to the authorities warning that he would die if not provided with appropriate medical care.[14]

In the summer of 2012, Ronaghi was given a short medical parole which was cut shorter after he was beaten and arrested for joining a group of relief workers who set out to aid the earthquake survivors of Sarand, East Azerbaijan. Having been recently operated on, he was specifically kicked in the kidney by security forces.[15] Physical abuse and torture, lack of medical treatment, and the effects of several hunger strikes led to Ronaghi's kidney failure. Consequently, his kidney was removed, and his remaining kidney was extremely damaged, threatening his life while in prison.[16]

Amnesty International designated Ronaghi a prisoner of conscience, stating that he appeared to be "held solely on account of his peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression". The organization called for him to be released immediately and unconditionally.[17]

In January 2016, Ronaghi was reported to be back in Evin prison after a period on medical parole that had been granted in June 2015.[18]

Throughout a ten-year period, Ronaghi spent a total of 6 years in prison, him and his family were under constant pressure, suffered harassment and forced inspections.[19] Finally, in June 2019, his permanent release was signed and Ronaghi's legal case was closed.

Since his release, Ronaghi has been actively advocating against governmental propaganda. Most recently, he published an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal titled "Western Media Aren't Telling you the Truth About Iran" in which he shared his own experiences and observations as an activist and citizen in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Re-arrest (February 2022)

The first news of Ronaghi's re-arrest came up on 23 February 2022, when the media first reported the disappearance of Ronaghi and then his arrest by security forces.[2][20] The day before his arrest, he had criticized a plan to restrict the Internet in Iran, known as the Protection Bill, in a series of tweets.[21][22][23][24] His brother, Hassan Ronaghi, reported anonymous and threatening calls from state security agencies before Hossein disappeared.[25][26][27][28] Confirming the news of his arrest, Iran International News Agency stated that no information was available about the detainee and his whereabouts.[29] Human rights activists say the security forces have raided Ronaghi's home and confiscated some of his belongings.[30]

Three days after his abduction, Ronaghi finally called his family, informing them that he had gone on dry hunger strike immediately after arrest.[31] On the eighth day of his arrest, Ronaghi was temporarily released on bail while the charges of "propaganda against the regime" and "congegrating and colluding against national security" remain in place for further proceedings.[32]

Re-arrest (September 2022)

On September 22, in the midst of Mahsa Amini protests, Hossein Ronaghi appeared on London-based channel Iran International for the first time, to speak on the uprisings taking place across Iran.[33] In the middle of the interview, Ronaghi noticed the entrance of security forces into his apartment, stating "they seem to be here."[34] While the TV host announced that Ronaghi has reportedly been arrested when closing the program, hours later, he published a video via a friend, informing the public that he had managed to escape a kidnapping attempt by security forces who had brought an ambulance to take him with, and used a brass knuckle to break his car's window.[35] He also promised to go to the Evin Courthouse in the following week with his lawyer, and that he would immediately start a dry hunger strike, if arrested. [36][37]

On September 24, Ronaghi appeared at the doors of the Evin Courthouse with his lawyers, Milad Panahipour and Saeid Jalilian, as promised. They were met with brutal violence before entering the courthouse, which caused Hossein to faint as seen on a widely circulated video.[38] Security forces arrested Ronaghi and both his lawyers upon their entrance into the courthouse.[39][40][41]

In his only phone call to his mom after his arrest, Hossein Ronaghi told her that his leg has been broken by security forces; later on, it was reported that both of Ronaghi's legs have been broken, and one of his fingers dislocated without any medical help, and his body gets dragged inside the prison from his solitary confinement station to the interrogation room.[42][43][44][45]

After 15 days of hunger strike, and 4 days of dry strike, one of Ronaghi's lawyers, Milad Panahipour was released from prison; however, the status of Ronaghi's promised dry strike remains unknown.[46][47]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki Returned to Prison before the Completion of His Treatment". 2011-05-10. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  2. ^ a b "Prominent blogger Seved Hossein Ronaghi Maleki arrested in Iran after critical tweets". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  3. ^ "Iranian activist disappears after criticizing internet bill". ABC News.
  4. ^ "First, Iran came for a rights activist. Then for his family and friends". Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, a 25 Years Old Blogger". Chrr.biz. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  6. ^ "hossein ronaghi maleki". Iranhumanrights.org. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  7. ^ "خبرگزاری هرانا | قرار نهایی منع تعقیب حسین رونقی ملکی صادر شد - خبرگزاری هرانا". Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  8. ^ "Hossein Ronaghi Maleki - Human Rights Activism". ipa.united4iran.org. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  9. ^ "The Story of Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki | From Threat of Execution to 15 Years Imprisonment". Rahana.org. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  10. ^ "Hossein Ronaghi From Hospital Back to Prison". En-hrana.org. 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  11. ^ Jillian York, USA (2009-12-22). "Iran: Jailed blogger Hossein Ronaghi in Danger". Global Voices Online. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  12. ^ "Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki | tracking the status of political prisoners". Rahana.org. Archived from the original on 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  13. ^ "They Want To Kill My Son: Father of Jailed Iranian Blogger". Payvand.com. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  14. ^ Kamali, Saeed (2012-06-06). "Iranian blogger on hunger strike close to death, warn fellow prisoners | World news | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  15. ^ "خبرگزاری هرانا | هرانا؛حسین رونقی ملکی با وجود خونریزی شدید کلیه به قرنطینه زندان تبریز منتقل شد - خبرگزاری هرانا". Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  16. ^ "دستور بستری شدن حسین رونقی ملکی صادر شد". رادیو فردا (in Persian). Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  17. ^ "Iran: Jailed Blogger Denied Medical Leave". Amnesty International. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  18. ^ Azarnoush, Shora (2016-01-22). "Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi Maleki is back behind bars". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  19. ^ ""فشار روی زندانی سیاسی برای گرفتن تایید اتهامات کیهان"". رادیو فردا (in Persian). Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  20. ^ "گزارش‌ها حاکی از "بازداشت" حسین رونقی، فعال مدنی، است". رادیو فردا (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  21. ^ "Iranian activist disappears after criticizing internet bill". The Washington Post.
  22. ^ Agencies, The New Arab Staff & (2022-02-26). "Iranian activist 'disappears' after criticising controversial internet bill". english.alaraby.co.uk/. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  23. ^ "Iranian activist disappears after criticizing internet bill". AP NEWS. 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  24. ^ The Editorial Board (2022-02-26). "Opinion | A Journal Contributor Vanishes in Iran". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  25. ^ "Iran's parliament moves forward with troubling bill to further restrict internet". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  26. ^ Motamedi, Maziar. "Iran: Controversial internet control bill passes committee stage". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  27. ^ "ادامه روند سرکوب فعالان مدنی؛ نگرانی از بازداشت حسین رونقی". iranhr.net (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  28. ^ "گزارش‌ها از بازداشت احتمالی "حسین رونقی ملکی" فعال حقوق بشر در ایران". صدای آمریکا (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  29. ^ "Internet Freedom Activist 'Abducted' In Iran After Days Of Intimidation". Iran International. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  30. ^ "پدر حسین رونقی: "چرا اختلاس‌گران را به عنوان ضدانقلاب نمی‌گیرند؟"". رادیو فردا (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  31. ^ Petrossian, Fred (2022-03-01). "Well known Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi goes on hunger strike after his abduction by authorities". Global Voices. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  32. ^ The Editorial Board (2022-03-06). "Opinion | Arrested in Iran for a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  33. ^ چشم‌انداز با سیما ثابت: مصاحبه با حسین رونقی و مسیح علینژاد؛ قدم بعدی معترضان چیست؟, retrieved 2022-10-14
  34. ^ "https://twitter.com/samrasoulpour/status/1573035523844837381". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-10-14. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  35. ^ ویدیویی از حسین رونقی که می‌گوید از چنگ ماموران گریخته و بازداشت نشده است, retrieved 2022-10-14
  36. ^ "Iranian Rights Activist Ronaghi Says Guards At Tehran's Evin Prison Broke His Leg During Beatings". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  37. ^ "https://twitter.com/masoudkazemi81/status/1573063149607129088". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-10-14. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  38. ^ کیهان لندن | حسین رونقی در مراجعه به دادسرای اوین مورد ضرب و جرح مأموران قرار گرفت!, retrieved 2022-10-14
  39. ^ لندن, کیهان; لندن, کیهان. "حسین رونقی و وکلایش سعید جلیلیان و میلاد پناهی‌پور بازداشت و با آمبولانس به مکانی نامعلوم منتقل شدند" (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  40. ^ "Iran: Release human rights defenders detained during protests". ARTICLE 19. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  41. ^ "Iran: Alarm over mass arrests of human rights defenders amidst protests". International Federation for Human Rights. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  42. ^ "First, Iran came for a rights activist. Then for his family and friends". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  43. ^ "مادر حسین رونقی: هر دو پای پسرم را شکسته‌اند". iranwire.com (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  44. ^ "Prison Guards Beat Iranian Freedom Activist, Break His Leg". Iran International. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  45. ^ "https://twitter.com/masoudkazemi81/status/1580598232274833408". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-10-14. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  46. ^ امجدی, عالیه (2022-10-10). "گزارش‌هایی از اعتصاب غذای وکیل میلاد پناهی پور در زندان". وکلاپرس (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  47. ^ "https://twitter.com/masoudkazemi81/status/1580277680221564928". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-10-14. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
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