Pro-Free Expression Activist Hossein Ronaghi Arrested After Tweeting About Iran Protests

Iranian blogger and pro-freedom of expression activist Hossein Ronaghi was arrested this evening. Moments before, he had sent a message to his mother saying “they” had come to his house.

The activist had posted prolifically on Twitter about the ongoing protests in Iran. Earlier on Thursday he had echoed reports from others that security agencies were co-opting ambulances to take away detainees, and written about internet disruption.

Ronaghi has faced arrest and imprisonment several times since the 2009 Green Movement protests, largely in relation to his fightback against internet censorship in Iran. His current location is unknown.

Also on Thursday, journalist and activist Alireza Khoshbakht, his wife and fellow activist Zahra Tohidi, were arrested and taken to an unknown location. Officers also raided the home of Mohammad-Ali Kamfirouzi, a lawyer for Elaheh Mohammadi, a journalist for Ham-Mihan newspaper who published a first-hand report on Mahsa Amini’s funeral. The journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei was also arrested.