Iraj Mesdaghi is an Iranian–Swedish author and researcher whose work is frequently referenced in academic studies, international media coverage, and policy-oriented discussions focused on contemporary Iranian history. His early involvement in civic and political topics began through Iranian student associations during his time in the United States. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, he returned to Iran with an interest in social participation and public affairs.
In 1981, Mesdaghi was detained in connection with political activities and spent more than a decade in several Iranian correctional facilities, including Evin, Ghazelhasar, and Gohardasht. During this period, he observed prison conditions and institutional practices that later informed his long-term research and documentation efforts related to Iran’s political and legal environment during the 1980s.
After his release, Mesdaghi left Iran and was granted asylum in Sweden in 1994. Since then, he has focused on historical research, archival documentation, and public education related to Iran’s prison system, legal structures, and accountability mechanisms. His work draws on archival sources, firsthand testimony, and publicly available records.
Mesdaghi has authored several widely cited books, including the multi-volume memoir Neither Life Nor Death and Hell on Earth. These publications provide detailed accounts of prison administration, institutional frameworks, and policy developments, and are regularly consulted by journalists, researchers, and organizations examining modern Iranian history.
In 2019, Mesdaghi was involved in efforts that contributed to legal proceedings against Hamid Noury, a former Iranian prison official, under Sweden’s universal jurisdiction laws. The case attracted international attention and is often referenced in discussions of cross-border legal accountability and human rights law.
He has also participated in large-scale research initiatives, including collaboration with a committee led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi that examined leaked judicial documents related to court procedures and institutional practices in Iran.
Through conferences, interviews, and public forums, Mesdaghi continues to contribute analysis on Iranian political history, institutional research, and international legal frameworks. He is widely recognized for his ongoing commitment to documentation, research, and public awareness, as well as for his role in preserving historical records related to justice and accountability.
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