Kianoush Cheraghi, a resident of Dehloran, was arrested on February 16, 2025 and transferred to the Border Guard Headquarters in Dehloran. His wife confirmed the news through her personal social media account. The arrest followed the revocation of his electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet) order.
Security forces raided his home on the day of the arrest, using excessive force to detain him. During his transfer to Ilam prison, Cheraghi was subjected to severe physical assault, resulting in injuries to his jaw and knee and the breaking of one of his teeth.
Prison Conditions and Hunger Strike
Despite his significant injuries, Ilam prison officials denied him access to medical treatment. When he requested medical care, prison authorities dismissed his request with indifference, reportedly saying, “Was anyone even violent toward you?”
In protest against his arrest and the mistreatment he endured, Cheraghi initiated a hunger strike. After nine days, he ended the strike following assurances from prison officials that they would address his concerns.
The Sixth Branch of the Ilam Court of Appeals issued an order on January 27, revoking his electronic monitoring. According to a summons received on February 12, 2025, Cheraghi was required to present himself to prison within five days to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Legal History and Sentencing
Kianoush Cheraghi, 44, is a computer engineer and a former employee of Iran’s Social Security Organization. He resigned from his position after witnessing corruption within the workplace.
He was first arrested on September 27, 2023, by security forces in Dehloran but was released after several days. However, on October 3, 2023, he was re-arrested and later freed on bail.
In October 2023, the Second Branch of the Ilam Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Reza Salahodini, sentenced him to one year of imprisonment on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” Additionally, the 101st Branch of the Dehloran Criminal Court, under Judge Hossein Panahi, sentenced him to two years in prison for “spreading false information with the intent to disturb public opinion.” As part of this sentence, he was also required to write a 200-page research paper on ten individuals killed in the Iran-Iraq War.
