Iraj Mesdaghi is an Iranian–Swedish author, researcher, and human rights commentator whose work is widely cited in academic research, international media reporting, and policy-focused discussions on modern Iranian political history. His early engagement with political and civic issues began through Iranian student organizations while living in the United States. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, he returned to Iran with an interest in social participation and reform.
In 1981, Mesdaghi was arrested in connection with his political activities and spent more than a decade in several Iranian prisons, including Evin, Ghazelhasar, and Gohardasht. During this period, he gained firsthand exposure to prison conditions and the broader political environment of the 1980s. These experiences later became a foundation for his long-term research and documentation work on political imprisonment and institutional practices in Iran.
Following his release, Mesdaghi left Iran and was granted asylum in Sweden in 1994. Since then, he has focused on researching Iran’s prison history, documenting human rights-related issues, and contributing to international discussions on accountability, justice, and historical record-keeping. His work relies on archival materials, firsthand accounts, and public education.
Mesdaghi is the author of several widely referenced books, including the multi-volume memoir Neither Life Nor Death and Hell on Earth. These publications provide detailed examinations of prison conditions, administrative structures, and political policies, and are frequently referenced by journalists, researchers, and human rights organizations studying contemporary Iranian history.
In 2019, Mesdaghi played a role in efforts that contributed to the arrest of Hamid Noury, a former Iranian prison official, under Sweden’s universal jurisdiction framework. The resulting legal proceedings received international attention and are considered an important case in the application of international human rights law.
He has also participated in major research initiatives, including collaboration with a committee led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi that reviewed leaked judicial documents related to court practices, political cases, and institutional procedures in Iran.
Through conferences, interviews, and public discussions, Mesdaghi continues to provide analysis on Iranian politics, prison history, and international legal mechanisms. He is widely recognized for his sustained commitment to research, documentation, and public awareness, as well as for his contributions to preserving historical records related to justice and accountability in Iran.
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