Farhad Meysami

Farhad Meysami is a civil activist, physician, and teacher. He used to run Andishesazan, an educational institution. A few months after the “Girls of Enghelab Street” movement started (the height of protests against the compulsory Hijab in years 2017 and 2018), Farhad Meysami was arrested due to his activities in support of women’s rights.

An image of Farhad Meysami was published showing him months into a hunger strike in Rajaei Shahr Prison. Mr. Meysami founded the "Andisheh Sazan" institute in the early 1990s which published special preparation books for the national university entrance exam. In 2004, after his institute was shut down, he started holding educational sessions in philosophy, science, theater, Iran's history, and non-violent civil rights acts. He gradually became a civil rights activist who preached non-violent activism. In a speech in 2018 at Isfahan University, he said the movement started by the Girls of Inqilab street has all the characteristics of a non-violent civil rights movement. Farhad Meysami's activities in this field led to his friendship with Reza Khandan, Nasrin Sotoudeh, and other human rights activists. He was eventually arrested for protesting the arrest of Nasrin Sotoudeh. <symbol-timeline></symbol-timeline>

<coverage-outsourcing id='23887'> In early December 2017, Vida Movahedi stood on a platform in Tehran's Enghelab Street, without a veil, and raised her white scarf in protest of forced veiling. The white scarf symbolizes the White Wednesday campaign in protest of the mandatory wearing of hijab in Iran. Vida Movahedi was arrested immediately after doing so. This protest was extensively covered on social media but her identity and status was unclear for the first few weeks. Movahedi was released shortly after and then arrested again. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23891'> A woman named Narges Hosseini came to Tehran, stood on the same platform Vida Movahedi stood on and raised her white scarf. Throughout the next few hours, a number of other women in different parts of Iran took off their veils in solidarity. Narges Hosseini was arrested and transferred to Qarchak prison in Varamin. Nasrin Sotoudeh assumed her legal representation. In the following days, women and men similarly protested against the laws that made hijabs mandatory. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23875'> Nasrin Sotoodeh joined Farhad Meysami in not eating </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23878'> Reza Khandan was released on parole and Farhad Meysami and Nasrin Sotoode ended their refusal to eat </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23882'> It was reported that Reza Khandan and Farhad Meysami had been each sentenced to six years in prison, two years of deprivation from social rights and a ban from leaving the country on charges of “assembly and collusion for acting against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” After Article 134 is applied, their sentence will be reduced to five years each </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='26093'> His lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi, wrote on Facebook that the Appeals Court confirmed his prison term </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='27317'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/Meysami.pdf'> Farhad Maysami and Mohammad Habibi noted about human rights violations in Evin Prison by publishing a letter to the judicial authorities and the Prisons Organization and declared that they will disobey prison laws in response to the restrictions on prisoners, such as (reducing visits, forbiddance of receiving books and authorized publications, the limitation for phone calls, etc). you can find the letter at the link below </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='27477'> He was transferred to Rajaei shahr prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='27721'> According to HRANA, three of the political and thought prisoners, Farhad Fahandej, Farhad Meysami, and Vahed Kholousi, are being kept under terrible conditions in one of the rooms in hall 11 of ward four. They have a shared yard with Jihadi prisoners, and due to their severe ideological opposition, they are not safe. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='28911'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.com/486027'> He ended his hunger strike after two months. Mr. Meysami had not publicized his hunger strike so it would not worry his family and friends. He had gone on hunger strike in protest of the pressure applied on political prisoners. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32961'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-26899/?tg_rhash=22a41dd9689763'> Farhad Meysami has contracted coronavirus. After his positive coronavirus test, several prisoners suspected of coronavirus were also moved to the infirmary for more monitoring. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33071'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-27037/'> According to HRANA, after eight days in solitary confinement of Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj, Farhad Meysami’s coronavirus test came back negative, and he was moved to the general population ward. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='39525'> <reference source='https://t.me/farhadmeysami_news/183'> He was taken to the revolutionary court of Karaj city to be arraigned for the charge of propaganda against the regime. Posting his writings online was the instance of the accusation. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='39526'> <reference source='https://t.me/farhadmeysami_news/184'> Farhad Meysami released a letter announcing that he will go on hunger strike from May 7th of 2022 in protest of the death sentence of Ahmad Reza Jalali and will not end his strike unless he hears that “the execution of Ahmad Reza Jalali has been stopped.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='39528'> <reference source='https://t.me/farhadmeysami_news/191'> According to Farhad Meysami’s attorney, Mohammad Moghimi, his client’s health is in danger. On the seventh day of the hunger strike, Mr. Meysami’s heartbeat was reported at 138, his blood pressure at eight on five, and his weight was reported at 58 kg. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='39527'> <reference source='https://t.me/farhadmeysami_news/190'> Farhad Meysami’s mother Sedigheh Pishnamaz went on a three-day hunger strike in protest of Ahmad Reza Jalali’s condition. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='39547'> <reference source='https://t.me/farhadmeysami_news/198'> Farhad Meysami and Houshang Rezaei, both on dry hunger strike in protest of the death sentence of Ahmad Reza Jalali, decided to consume one and a half glasses of water each day. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='39515'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2022/hranews/a-34965/?tg_rhash=22a41dd9689763'> HRANA reported that in recent days several political prisoners have gone on hunger strike. Fereydoun Zakerinasab, Vahid Bagheri, Barzan Mohammadi, Farhad Meysami, Eskandar Lotfi, Hasan Saeedi, Salar Sedigh Hamedani, and Ebrahim Sedigh Hamedani, are among the prisoners still on hunger strike. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='39655'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3LWoogS'> Civil rights activist Reza Khandan announced on Twitter that Mr. Meysami had told him: “Jalali’s stay of execution until May 21st practically means the reversal of the sentence. I suspended my hunger strike on May 23rd at the hospital. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='40879'> <reference source='https://www.radiofarda.com/a/iran-farhadmeisami/31960559.html'> A new case was brought against him at the 7th branch of investigation at Karaj revolutionary prosecution’s office. Mohammad Moghimi, the former attorney of Farhad Meysami told Radio Farda that Mr. Meysami’s new case is in relation to his criticisms and hunger strike against the death sentence of Ahmad Reza Jalali. Mr. Meysami has refused to attend the indictment because he wasn’t notified in advance. Regarding the previous case brought against Mr. Meysami while in prison, his former attorney Mohammad Moghimi told Radio Farda that the case was closed, and an order of nonsuit was issued. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='42263'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/RezaKhandan4/status/1565635722626813953?s=20&t=AgPo-R02zoVZ4vyF6xaPfQ'> Attorney at law Reza Khandan reported in a tweet that a prisoner has attacked Mr. Meysami with a "shiv" and wounded him in both hands. According to Mr. Khandan, the culprit had been transferred to Farhad Meysami's suite. Mr. Meysami's former attorney Mohammad Moghimi told Radio Farda that the attack was "premeditated". Human rights activist Arash Sadeghi wrote on Twitter that Mr. Meysami has been transferred to the quarantine ward's camera room (the room where death row inmates are held). </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='42364'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.info/733863'> Farhad Meysami wrote an open letter in prison in support of the national uprising in response to the murder of Mahsa Amini. In the letter published on Radio Zamaneh's website, he criticized the mandatory hijab and referred to Morality Patrol as a "national harassment patrol" and promised a three-part action from prison. He said in the first step he will avoid all solid food. In the second part, he will produce content, whether translation or original content regarding this event and in the third step he will take long walks every day. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='42592'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.info/734856'> Radio Zamaneh reported that Rajaei Shahr Prison authorities have frozen Farhad Meysami's phone card (used for calling outside). According to the report, Mr. Meysami went on a hunger strike on October 2nd, and prison authorities have already threatened him that they will return the prisoner who had previously attacked him to his suite. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='43110'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.info/740190'> According to Radio Zamaneh due to the hunger strike, Farhad Meysami's weight has dropped to 56 kg and his health is in crisis. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='46979'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/Moghimi_Lawyer/status/1606040471456849946?s=20'> Due to his resistance while being transferred to the general population, he was assaulted by the prison authorities. His attorney Mohammad Moghimi reported that according to the prison infirmary, Mr. Meysami's weight has dropped to 52 kg. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='46727'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3X2iC2I'> In a message from Rajaei Shahr Prison, he objected to the execution of protesters and demanded the executions stop and the immediate release of several political and civil rights activists from prison. According to IranWire, Mr. Meysami is on a hunger strike, and in his message he has demanded the immediate release of Mohammad Habibi, Nahid Shirbisheh, Reza Shahabi, Bahareh Hedayat, Mostafa Nili, and Nilloufar Hamedi. IranWire reported that the prison guards have violently moved Mr. Meysamoi to the ward of dangerous crimes. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='46981'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/HNeumannMEP/status/1621233526489096192?s=20'> Member of European Parliament Hannah Neumann reacted to the photos of Mr. Meysami and tweeted: > We must find ways to save people like Farhad Meysami, not the IRGC terrorists and the current regime. Darya Safaei, the Iranian member of the Belgian parliament also tweeted photos of Mr. Meysami in prison and expressed concern for his life and said Mr. Meysami was arrested for opposing the mandatory hijab. At the same time, some of his friends and supporters also started a petition in his support, expressing concern for his health due to all the torture that he has been through. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='46987'> <reference source='https://ir.voanews.com/a/farhad-meysami-hunger-strike-reactions/6945390.html'> Voice of America released a report on the reactions of social media users and activists to the images of Mr. Meysami after the hunger strike in prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='46728'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/bbcpersian/status/1621178165727993857?s=20'> BBC Persia published a photo of Mr. Meysami showing his extreme weight loss after four months on hunger strike along with an open letter from him. In the letter he states that he is on a hunger strike in solidarity with the people who are suffering every day and that he continues to insist on his three demands which are stopping the execution of protesters, the release of six political-civil prisoners, and an end to hijab harassment. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='46985'> <reference source='https://www.radiofarda.com/a/32253567.html'> Radio Farda released a report of the reactions to the images of Farhad Meysami a few months after the hunger strike. Prominent figures and activists such as Prince Reza Pahlavi, Hamed Esmailioun, and Atena Daemi in separate statements condemned the Islamic Republic's "injustice" and treatment of political prisoners. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='46980'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/USEnvoyIran/status/1621262168493641729?s=20'> Robert Malley, the US special representative on Iran described the images of Farhad Meysami after the hunger strike as "shocking" and said the regime has denied the rights and freedoms of Mr. Meysami and thousands of other political prisoners and is now threatening his life. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='46993'> <reference source='https://www.instagram.com/p/CoUkxejuUlA/'> In a letter to Farhad Meysami, labor activist and political prisoner Reza Shahabi emphasized that Meysami's demands on which he has staked his life, are the demands of everyone who loves this country, and asked him to end his hunger strike. Mr. Shahabi emphasized that moving toward these demands is a collective responsibility and told Mr. Meysami that the country needs to proliferate his voice and others'. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='46986'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3XqnVtm'> 380 Iranian women's rights activists including Shirin Ebadi, Shiva Nazar Ahari, Anisha Asadollahi, and Parastou Forouhar wrote a joint letter to Mr. Meysami expressing support and appreciation for his fight against mandatory hijab and the release of political prisoners and pointed out that his struggles for civil rights and non-violent protests started much earlier than the current protests in Iran. Parvin Fahimi, mother of Sohrab Arabi, one of the protesters killed in 2009 also asked Mr. Meysami to end his hunger strike. Arrested journalist Niloufar Hamedi released an audio message addressing Mr. Meysami asking him to end his hunger strike. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='47026'> <reference source='https://t.me/kashowra/15070'> In response to a letter from the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers' Associations that asked him to end his hunger strike, he wrote: > I'm extremely eager to be a small member of your order in the future...but the seed of that near future lies within our actions "today". He went on to say that his goals will not be achieved by ending his hunger strike, but "with your institution beginning the act of collective resistance and by standing for our righteous demands. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='47172'> <reference source='https://t.me/kashowra/15085'> He was released. On February 5th, 2023, the Islamic Republic's Judiciary issued a memo that announced the beginning of the process of releasing some of the protesters arrested during the 2022 national uprising. According to the judiciary's Mizan website, and latest comments made by the spokesperson for the judiciary, this "pardon" is in honor of the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and contingent on the prisoners expressing regret; The pardon is not extended to cases with charges such as "connection to dissident groups", and "destruction of public property". However, many of the released prisoners have posted videos and notes saying they never requested a pardon and never expressed regret. There are even videos of female activists taking off their hijab and chanting against the Islamic Republic in front of the prison moments after their release. The release of prisoners being called a pardon has caused massive reaction online and some activists on social media and human rights organizations consider it a PR stunt to repair some of the damage to Ali Khamenei's image. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>