Hussein Ronaghi's Account of Attending Court with Sewn Lips: I Will Sit-in

Hussein Ronaghi, a political activist who on Sunday went to the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran with sewn lips as a form of protest, recounted what happened to him and stated: "My demands are those of Kianoush Sanjari." Kianoush Sanjari, a journalist and collaborator with Voice of America, human rights activist, and former political prisoner, ended his life on Wednesday, November 23, in protest against the conditions of political prisoners in the Islamic Republic. Mr. Ronaghi, who had warned the Iranian authorities after the secret burial of Kianoush Sanjari that they would regret it, went to the Islamic Revolutionary Court on Sunday, November 27, as previously announced, with sewn lips 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 attending the Tehran Revolutionary Court, I was transferred to a room by the intelligence protection officers of the judiciary. After an hour, several security agents from the Ministry of Intelligence arrived and transferred me and my lawyer, Mr. Saeed Jalilian, to the Ministry of Intelligence office." Hussein Ronaghi also stated that "they insisted on opening my lips, 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 that you arrest me, detain me, and kill me, just as you killed in prison, or issued death sentences for the dearest children of this land, like the children of Ekbatan. I will stage a sit-in in a corner of this city; wait and see." In recent days, Kianoush Sanjari's account on X published a text calling for the release of Fatemeh Sepahri, Nasrin Shakeri, Arsham Rezai, and Toumaj Salehi, stating that otherwise, he would end his life. One day after this text was published, Mr. Sanjari died under "suspicious circumstances." Also see: Reactions to Kianoush Sanjari's death: An indictment against the Islamic Republic. Hours before the announcement of Kianoush Sanjari's burial on November 25, an unofficial media outlet close to the Revolutionary Guards reported images of his early burial, and according to registered documents at 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 saying goodbye to his body at Behesht Zahra. Hussein Ronaghi, who was detained for several hours on the morning of November 25 while going to Behesht Zahra, wrote to the Iranian authorities: "I had said that if you create any restrictions or want to harass, I will make you regret it, and as Kianoush said: 'The promise is fulfilled.'" 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 Iranian people. A protest performance in memory of Kianoush Sanjari took place in front of the Islamic Republic's embassy in Nicosia. A group of Iranians gathered in Copenhagen in memory of the victims of November and Kianoush Sanjari. Arsham Rezai 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: An eyewitness account of the violence of the agents at Kianoush Sanjari's burial. Exclusive: The U.S. State Department: Sanjari's death is a sign of the despair of Iran's youth.