The Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA)* is alarmed by the message received from Evin prison on the dire situation of Hossein Ronaghi. Ronaghi is a civil activist who was arrested during the clampdown on the ongoing revolution in Iran. Therefore, we urge the international community to act immediately by amplifying the voice of Hossein Ronaghi and his family and by holding the Islamic Republic of Iran Accountable.

Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, two internationally acclaimed filmmakers incarcerated in Tehran's Evin prison, have issued the following joint statement describing the poor physical condition of imprisoned civil activist Hossein Ronaghi:

"As eyewitnesses incarcerated in Ward 4 of Evin prison, we have closely monitored the physical conditions of our fellow inmate, Hossein Ronaghi. We have also observed how the authorities deal with this situation. After a 50-day-long hunger strike, Ronaghi’s physical strength has been severely weakened. He is unable to walk, is vomiting blood, has a low and irregular heart rate, has low blood pressure and blood sugar, and has acute kidney failure with infection. His condition worsens minute by minute.

According to the prison physicians, now the risk of his cardiac arrest is very high. In such a situation, it’s unclear why the judiciary system does not take action to release Hossein Ronaghi. 

On November 1, amidst his health issues, the case investigator changed Ronaghi’s arrest warrant to a bail warrant. The Ronaghi family immediately announced they were ready to post bail and handed over the required documents to the prosecutor's office. However, since then, none of the promises of imminent release made by prison authorities have been fulfilled. This situation has become a manipulation tactic used by the state to distress the prisoners and their families psychologically. 

Since the authorities have turned a blind eye to his condition, Hossein Ronagi has gone on a “dry” hunger strike starting at midnight on Sunday, November 13. His decision to employ this resistance method indicates that he understands his life is already in jeopardy. 

*The Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) is committed to supporting the ongoing revolution in Iran, led by Iranian women freedom fighters. We, a group of independent filmmakers, have joined together to be the voice of peaceful protestors, demand the unconditional release of all political prisoners, and end the Iranian regime’s propaganda. We believe in the power of the universal language of cinema as a narrator of truth and peace.