Hossein Ronaghi Arrested During Sit-in by 'More than 20 Armed Officers'

Hossein Ronaghi's brother announced that according to 'reports from those present at Vali Asr Square', this political activist, who stated he would stage a sit-in in a corner of this square in Tehran, was 'arrested by more than 20 armed officers with pistols, batons, and tasers'. On Sunday, Ronaghi went to the Islamic Revolutionary Court in a protest action with his lips sewn shut, stating that he would sit in support of the demands of Kianoush Sanjari and what led to his death. Kianoush Sanjari, a journalist and former political prisoner, died by suicide on Wednesday, November 23, in protest against the conditions of political prisoners in the Islamic Republic. Ronaghi, who had warned Islamic Republic officials after Sanjari's secret burial that they would regret their actions, went to the Islamic Revolutionary Court on Sunday, November 27, as previously announced, with his lips sewn shut alongside his lawyer. In describing this visit to the judicial authority, he emphasized that 'I will continue until it serves as a wake-up call', writing on social media platform X: 'After arriving at the Tehran Revolutionary Court, I was transferred to a room by the judiciary's security officers. After a while, several security officers from the Ministry of Intelligence arrived and transferred me and my lawyer, Mr. Saeed Jalilian, to the Ministry of Intelligence office.' Ronaghi also stated that 'they insisted on opening my lips there, which I opposed', adding: 'They insisted on arresting me and sending me to prison; they asked about my demands, but I had nothing to say, I wrote on a blank paper: My words are Kianoush's words, and my demands are Kianoush's demands. After a few hours, they released me.' This political activist also said: 'I declared that I will not open my lips and will continue until Kianoush's demands are met; my decision is to have you arrest me, detain me, and kill me. Just as you killed in prison, or issued a death sentence for the dearest children of this land like the children of Ekbatan, I will stage a sit-in in a corner of this city, so be prepared.' In recent days, a text was published on Kianoush Sanjari's X account, where he called for the release of Fatemeh Sepahri, Nasrin Shakeri, Arasham Rezayi, and Toumaj Salehi, stating that otherwise, he would end his life. One day after this text was published, Mr. Sanjari died under 'suspicious circumstances'. Hours before the announcement of the burial time for Kianoush Sanjari on November 25, an unofficial media outlet close to the Revolutionary Guards reported on his early burial, and according to registered documents in Behesht Zahra Cemetery in Tehran, this former political prisoner was buried on November 24. Based on citizen reports, government forces prevented people from paying their respects to Kianoush Sanjari and bidding farewell to his body at Behesht Zahra. Hossein Ronaghi, who was detained for hours on the morning of November 25 while going to Behesht Zahra, wrote to the Islamic Republic officials: 'I said that if you create restrictions or want to harass, I will make you regret it, and as Kianoush said: the promise is kept.' Abram Paley, Deputy Special Representative for Iran at the U.S. State Department, described Kianoush Sanjari's death as a 'tragic example' of the Islamic Republic's brutality against the people of Iran. A protest performance in memory of Kianoush Sanjari took place in front of the Islamic Republic embassy in Nicosia. A gathering of Iranians in Copenhagen was held in memory of the victims of November and Kianoush Sanjari. Arasham Rezayi from prison: How many more must end their lives for us to wake up? Reporters Without Borders: The government is responsible for Kianoush Sanjari's death. Paley: Kianoush Sanjari's death reflects the 'brutality' of the Islamic Republic. Exclusive: Eyewitness account of the violence of officials at Kianoush Sanjari's burial. Exclusive: U.S. State Department: Sanjari's death is a sign of the despair of Iran's youth.