Overview

• Kianoosh Sanjari, a prominent Iranian human rights activist, took his own life after authorities failed to meet his demand for the release of four political prisoners.
• Sanjari's protest highlighted ongoing repression in Iran, as the prisoners were involved in demonstrations following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini.
• Sanjari, who had sought asylum in Norway and worked in the US, returned to Iran in 2016 and was subsequently imprisoned and subjected to harsh treatments.
• His death has sparked widespread grief and condemnation among activists and opposition figures, who blame the Iranian regime for his demise.
• Sanjari's act is seen as a stark reminder of the severe consequences faced by dissenters in Iran, amid a broader crackdown on civil liberties.