Iranian journalist and human rights activist Kianoosh Sanjari died by suicide in Tehran on Wednesday, in protest against what he called the country's repressive regime
Mr Sanjari, who was 42, had threatened in a social media post on Tuesday to take his own life if four political prisoners were not released by Wednesday evening.
His death was confirmed by other activists.
“My life will end after this tweet but let us not forget that we die and die for the love of life, not death,” Mr Sanjari wrote on X, in his last tweet to his almost 1 million followers.
He said no one should be “imprisoned for expressing their opinions”, calling international attention to the mass arrests of government critics and human rights activists in Iran.
“Protest is the right of every Iranian citizen,” he said on X.
Iranian human rights activist Hossein Ronaghi paid tribute to Mr Sanjari in a post on X confirming his death. “Kianoosh Sanjari is not just a name, it is a symbol of years of pain, resistance and struggle for freedom,” he said.
“His death is a warning to all of us that how heavy the price of silence and indifference can be.”
The four political prisoners Mr Sanjari had demanded be released – Fatemeh Sepehri, Nasrin Shakarami, Toomaj Salehi and Arsham Rezaei – were arrested for taking part in protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in 2022.
Ms Amini died in the custody of Iran's morality police, after being detained in Tehran for wearing her hijab “improperly”.
Thousands protested against the government across Iran following her death, leading to mass arrests. Some of those convicted were executed and others given long prison sentences.
Mr Sanjari had been repeatedly arrested and imprisoned by the Iranian authorities between 1999 and 2007 for his pro-democracy and human rights activism.
He fled Iran in 2007 and received asylum in Norway, with the assistance of Amnesty International. While abroad, he continued his human rights activities and worked with rights group the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation and the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre, before joining US broadcaster Voice of America's Persian service in Washington.
Mr Sanjari returned to Iran in 2016 to be with his parents, and was arrested and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment in Tehran's Evin Prison, where political prisoners are often kept. He was released on bail in 2019 on medical grounds, and subsequently taken to a psychiatric hospital.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
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Company%20Profile
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Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded