"Hossein Ronaghi" on the verge of a silent death

The critical situation of "Hossein Ronaghi" in Qezl-e-Hesar Prison has put him on the verge of a silent death.

Reports from Qezl-e-Hesar Prison indicate that the physical condition of Hossein Ronaghi, a civil activist and political prisoner, has reached a critical stage. He has been on a wet hunger strike since September 1 and is now in his fourth day of a dry hunger strike; a situation that his family and fellow prisoners have warned of as “a danger to his life.”

"Zulikha Mousavi," Hussein's mother, described his condition as "bad" in a statement, saying: "Hussein's blood sugar is 56 and his blood pressure is 8/4; conditions that indicate that he should be transferred to the hospital as soon as possible, but he is still in prison."

Ms. Mousavi has held the Ministry of Intelligence and the Islamic Republic's officials directly responsible for her son's life.
Four political prisoners imprisoned in Qazl-e Hassar have also warned in a letter about the possibility of a serious disaster for him, writing that Hussein has been deprived of medical attention even with kidney bleeding.

Human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has warned of the danger to life from continuing the strike and called for the immediate release of Hossein Ronaghi and other sick and prisoners of conscience.

"Arash Sadeghi" also wrote in response to Ronaghi's situation: "Maybe he (Hossein Ronaghi) will die. But before that, it is we who must ask ourselves: Are we still alive?"

Throughout Tehran, leaflets declaring their intolerance for Hossein's imprisonment, which dates back to 2016, have been distributed; an action that has demonstrated street solidarity.

Hossein Ronaghi's current arrest comes after he tweeted at the start of the Iran-Israel war: "The Iranian nation does not want war, they want freedom and development of their land, and they want a normal life. But in a system where repression, censorship, and execution are part of everyday life, the people's voices are not heard."

For this reason, he was arrested on charges of "propaganda against the regime in favor of Israel" and transferred to one of the Ministry of Intelligence's safe houses. Despite having a definitive certificate of non-tolerance for punishment and the possibility of release on bail, he remains in prison.

In a letter written on the fourteenth day of his hunger strike, Ronaghi stated: “Surviving at any cost is not desirable or my choice, especially under the shadow of an autocratic government that does not care about the lives of Iranians, even if the lives of citizens depend on a sip of water.” In the same letter, he emphasized his love for the people of Iran and his desire for freedom, justice, and the nation’s right to sovereignty.

Hussein's sister, Sakineh Ronaghi, says he has been deprived of his vital medications since his arrest, calling the government's action "deliberate disregard for his medical condition." Hussein suffers from chronic kidney, high blood pressure, and thyroid diseases, and keeping him in prison in such conditions is "premeditated murder," she says.

Hossein Ronaghi, who became known for his work for a free internet in 2009, has become a symbol of civil resistance in recent years. Many on social media have called him the "Star Khan of Iran" or the contemporary "Babak Khoramdin."
The widespread solidarity in support of him, from the hashtag "Hossein Ronaghi" trending during the 1401 protests to the distribution of leaflets on the streets declaring "no tolerance for imprisonment," shows that his voice goes beyond an individual demand.