human rights defender
HRD's year of birth
1965
HRD's Gender
Man
Type of HRD
- Social and community leader
- Trade union leader
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- Labour rights
Current Status
In prison (sentenced)
HRD's bio and work
Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, a human rights activist and a former firefighter dismissed from his job in Fardis, Karaj, has been arrested multiple times for his protest activities and defense of political prisoners' rights. Due to his participation in civil protests, including his support for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement and his opposition to the repressive policies of the Islamic Republic, he has faced intense security and judicial pressure. Ahmadi Ragheb has been sentenced to prison and exile and was also dismissed from his job due to his human rights activism.
Detained since
Mar 16, 2023
Charge(s)
- Anti-government propaganda
- Subversion
Sentence
6 years and 8 months in prison
Latitude: 35.80195472528591
Longitude: 50.856278837167366
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Asia: Southern Asia
Location of detention - City/Town
Tehran
Location of detention - Facility
Tehran, Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
Recent case update / evolution
Mr. Ahmadi Ragheb has been sentenced in two cases to a total of 6 years and 8 months in prison and 2 years of exile to the city of Qeydar, located in Zanjan Province. He was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, to five years and eight months in prison, along with a ban on membership in political and social groups, a prohibition on using smartphones, and a two-year ban on leaving the country. Additionally, in connection with a case opened against him during his imprisonment, he was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Mousa Asef Hosseini, to one year in prison and two years of exile to the city of Qeydar, located in Zanjan Province.
Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb was transferred to a hospital from Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj due to poor physical health. He has gone on a hunger strike in protest against the sentences that have been issued and enforced against him during his imprisonment.
Any other relevant documents
Continuation of the hunger strike; a letter from Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb from Evin Prison https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pXtyBItmAA4PbpOCo8ZAPmHzNva_ZwDuQFIsdPSK3OE/edit?usp=sharing
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