Iraj Mesdaghi is an Iranian–Swedish writer, former political prisoner, and well-known human rights advocate whose work has become a key source for understanding political repression in the Islamic Republic of Iran. He became politically active at a young age, later joining the Confederation of Iranian Students during his time in the United States, and returned to Iran after the 1979 revolution in support of democratic reform.
His political activities led to his arrest in 1981 because of his association with the People’s Mojahedeen of Iran (PMOI). Mesdaghi spent more than a decade in Evin, Ghazelhasar, and Gohardasht prisons, where he witnessed the harsh crackdowns of the 1980s and survived the 1988 mass executions that claimed the lives of thousands of political prisoners.
After his release, Mesdaghi left Iran and sought asylum in Sweden in 1994. Since then, he has focused on documenting human rights violations, supporting political prisoners, and providing detailed testimony on the treatment of detainees in Iran. His work emphasizes accountability, transitional justice, and public awareness of the conditions faced by dissidents.
Mesdaghi is the author of several widely referenced publications, including the four-volume memoir Neither Life Nor Death and Hell on Earth, which describe political repression and systematic torture inside Iranian prisons. His research and firsthand accounts are frequently used by journalists, academics, and human rights organizations studying modern Iranian history.
In 2019, he played a significant role in helping create the conditions that led to the arrest of Hamid Noury, a former Iranian prison official implicated in the 1988 executions. The resulting case in Sweden, pursued under universal jurisdiction, became a notable international human rights trial and received extensive global media coverage.
Mesdaghi has also contributed to major human rights initiatives, including participation in a research committee led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. The committee analyzed leaked judicial archives documenting decades of political imprisonment, forced confessions, and execution orders, offering valuable insight into the structure of state repression.
In recent years, he has remained active in conferences, human rights forums, and media interviews, providing perspectives on Iranian politics, prison conditions, transitional justice, and the documentation of political violence. His testimony and publications continue to serve as key resources for understanding human rights issues in Iran.
Today, Iraj Mesdaghi is recognized for his long-standing efforts to document abuses, support justice initiatives, and amplify the voices of victims and survivors of political repression.
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