Zardasht Ahmadi Ragab on 19th Day of Hunger Strike: I Will Continue Until Ahmadrreza Jalali’s Execution Order Is Cancelled

Zardasht Ahmadi Ragab, on the 19th day of a new round of his hunger strike, called on “compatriots and all human rights activists” in a message from prison to join efforts to demand the cancellation of Ahmadrreza Jalali’s execution order.

Ahmadi Ragab, a political prisoner, sent an audio message on Sunday, May 15, from Rajaishahr Prison in Alborz Province, a copy of which was received by the Farsi section of Voice of America.

The imprisoned civil activist emphasized that he will continue his protest hunger strike until Ahmadrreza Jalali’s execution order is cancelled. Jalali is an Iranian-Swedish dual national prisoner.

Stating that “many people in Iran are opposed to murder, crime, and oppression and tyranny,” he called on them to “join us so that we can send oppression and tyranny to hell.”

Besides Zardasht Ahmadi Ragab, Farhad Meisami, another imprisoned civil activist, has also gone on hunger strike in protest of Jalali’s execution order.

Zabihollah Khadiyan, spokesperson for the Judiciary, announced on Tuesday, May 10, that Ahmadrreza Jalali’s execution order is final and “the judicial system will act based on the issued order.”

Enrique Mora, Deputy for Political Affairs of the European Union and coordinator of JCPOA revival talks, who traveled to Tehran for nuclear negotiations to resume, said he has requested Iranian officials to release Ahmadrreza Jalali, an Iranian-Swedish citizen sentenced to death on espionage charges, on humanitarian grounds.

Also, Ann Linde, Sweden’s Foreign Minister, and Ned Price, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, expressed concern about the possible execution of Ahmadrreza Jalali and called for his release.

Ahmadrreza Jalali was born in 1350 (1971) in Sarab in East Azerbaijan Province. He is an Iranian-born physician, university professor, and Swedish citizen. A researcher in crisis management and unexpected emergencies, he was arrested by Intelligence Ministry officials in May 2016 while traveling to Iran to participate in a scientific conference. Amnesty International reported that after nine months in prison, including three months in solitary confinement, Jalali was convicted of espionage in a Revolutionary Court without a lawyer present and was later sentenced to death.

Source: Voice of America