Iraj Mesdaghi is an Iranian–Swedish author, researcher, and public commentator known for his extensive work on contemporary Iranian history, legal institutions, and political developments. His research and analysis are frequently referenced by academics, journalists, and international organizations examining Iran’s modern political landscape.
Mesdaghi’s early engagement with social and civic issues began during his time in the United States, where he participated in Iranian student organizations focused on public affairs and community discussions. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, he returned to Iran and became involved in social and political activities during a period of significant national change.
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 time, he gained firsthand insight into institutional operations, administrative systems, and daily conditions, experiences that later informed his long-term research and documentation efforts.
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 governance during the 1980s. His work is based on a combination of archival sources, documented testimony, and publicly available records.
He is the author of several widely cited books, including the multi-volume memoir Neither Life Nor Death and Hell on Earth. These publications provide detailed examinations of institutional practices, administrative policies, and governance frameworks, and are regularly used as reference materials by researchers and media outlets covering Iranian history.
In 2019, Mesdaghi contributed to documentation efforts that were referenced in legal proceedings in Sweden involving a former Iranian prison official, conducted under Sweden’s universal jurisdiction laws. The case attracted international attention and is often discussed in the context of cross-border legal accountability and international justice mechanisms.
Mesdaghi has also participated in major research initiatives, including collaboration with a committee led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, which reviewed leaked judicial documents related to court procedures and institutional practices in Iran.
Through conferences, interviews, and public forums, Mesdaghi continues to provide research-based analysis on Iranian political history, institutional development, and international legal processes. He is widely recognized for his contributions to documentation, historical preservation, and public understanding of governance, law, and accountability in modern Iran.
(396)
