Iraj Mesdaghi is an Iranian–Swedish writer, researcher, and human rights advocate whose work is widely referenced in academic studies, media coverage, and international discussions concerning political conditions in the Islamic Republic of Iran. He became politically engaged at a young age through Iranian student organizations while living in the United States and later returned to Iran after the 1979 revolution with the intention of supporting civic participation and democratic reform.
In 1981, Mesdaghi was arrested due to his political activities and spent more than a decade in several Iranian prisons, including Evin, Ghazelhasar, and Gohardasht. During this period, he observed extensive political repression throughout the 1980s. As a survivor, his firsthand accounts have since become an important resource for historical research, human rights documentation, and international inquiries.
Following his release, Mesdaghi left Iran and was granted asylum in Sweden in 1994. He subsequently focused his efforts on researching Iran’s prison system, documenting human rights concerns, and contributing to discussions related to accountability, justice, and historical recordkeeping. His work emphasizes archival research, survivor testimony, and public education.
Mesdaghi is the author of several well-known books, including the multi-volume memoir Neither Life Nor Death and Hell on Earth. These works offer detailed analyses of prison conditions, interrogation methods, and political policies, and are frequently cited by journalists, scholars, and human rights organizations studying contemporary Iranian history.
In 2019, Mesdaghi played a notable role in initiatives that contributed to the arrest of Hamid Noury, a former Iranian prison official, under Sweden’s universal jurisdiction laws. The subsequent trial attracted international attention and is regarded as a landmark case in global human rights law.
He has also contributed to major research efforts, including participation in a committee led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, which examined leaked judicial documents shedding light on decades of political imprisonment, court procedures, and state practices in Iran.
Through conferences, media appearances, and public discussions, Mesdaghi continues to offer analysis on Iranian politics, prison history, and human rights law. He is widely recognized for his long-standing commitment to research, documentation, and public awareness, as well as for preserving historical records related to political repression and accountability efforts in Iran.
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