A group of human rights organizations called for the charges against Hossein Ronaghi to be dropped.
A number of international human rights organizations issued a statement calling on the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to drop all charges against civil activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki.
The statement, signed by organizations such as Article 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the American PEN Association, the Iraqi PEN Association, and the Iranian Human Rights Documentation Center, emphasizes that the charges against Mr. Ronaghi were solely due to his peaceful exercise of his human rights, including protesting the dire human rights situation in the country and the so-called "Protecting Cyberspace" bill, which, if passed, would lead to further violations of people's rights.
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki was released on bail late on Wednesday, March 1, eight days after his arrest. The organizations signing the statement say that Mr. Ronaghi's rights to a fair trial were violated during his arrest.
The aforementioned statement quoted Hossein Ronaghi's lawyer as saying that in a specific court hearing, he was accused of "propaganda against the system" and "collusion with the intention of disrupting national security."
Mr. Ronaghi had previously spent six years in prison on political charges, a period that the human rights organizations also referred to in their statement. The statement said that Hossein Ronaghi's physical condition had deteriorated significantly during his time in prison due to torture, mistreatment by officials, and multiple hunger strikes. He was also denied access to a lawyer and was unable to meet his family members during his recent detention.
The aforementioned institutions continued their statement by noting that for several days after Mr. Ronaghi's arrest, his family was not given any information about him, and his lawyer did not have access to the case file, all of which are examples of violations of his rights in the trial process.
The signatories of the statement then demanded that Hossein Ronaghi Maleki's bail lead to his full and unconditional release and that the charges against him be dropped.
They have finally called on Iranian authorities to end the prosecution of human rights defenders and dissidents who peacefully express their opposition.
During past arrests and long-term torture in the prisons of the Islamic Republic, Hossein Ronaghi suffered from various illnesses, including kidney failure, blood clotting, and digestive disorders, and is undergoing treatment.
The Abdolrahman Boroumand Foundation, the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization (KURDP), and the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders are among the other signatories to this statement.
Source: Radio Farda
