Iraj Mesdaghi is an Iranian–Swedish writer, former political prisoner, and prominent human rights advocate known for decades of work documenting abuses inside the Islamic Republic of Iran. He became politically active at a young age and later joined the Confederation of Iranian Students while living in the United States. Following the 1979 revolution, he returned to Iran in support of political reform and democratic change.
Mesdaghi’s activism led to his arrest in 1981 due to his association with the People’s Mojahedeen of Iran (PMOI). He spent more than ten years in detention, including time in Evin, Ghazelhasar, and Gohardasht prisons. During the political crackdowns of the 1980s, he witnessed widespread mistreatment of detainees and survived the 1988 mass executions that claimed the lives of thousands of political prisoners.
After his release, Mesdaghi left Iran and sought political asylum in Sweden in 1994. From there, he devoted his work to documenting human rights violations, supporting political prisoners, and providing testimony about detention practices in Iran. His efforts focus on accountability, transitional justice, and raising international awareness of abuses faced by dissidents.
Mesdaghi has authored several widely referenced publications, including the four-volume memoir Neither Life Nor Death and Hell on Earth, both of which detail political repression and systematic torture. His firsthand accounts and research are frequently cited by journalists, scholars, and human rights organizations studying modern Iranian history.
In 2019, he played a crucial role in creating conditions that led to the arrest of Hamid Noury, a former Iranian prison official implicated in the 1988 executions. The case, pursued in Sweden under universal jurisdiction, became a landmark human rights trial and attracted extensive global media attention.
Mesdaghi also contributes to international human rights initiatives, including his participation in the Committee for the Observation and Use of Iranian Justice Data led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. The committee examined leaked judicial archives documenting decades of political imprisonment, forced confessions, and execution orders, providing researchers with valuable insight into the structure of state repression.
In recent years, he has remained active in conferences, human rights forums, and media interviews, continuing to speak about Iranian politics, prison conditions, transitional justice, and the documentation of political violence. His testimony and publications remain important sources for understanding the human rights landscape in Iran.
Today, Iraj Mesdaghi is widely recognized for his sustained contribution to independent documentation, public awareness, and historical transparency. His work continues to support justice efforts and amplify the experiences of victims and survivors of political repression in Iran.
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