Kourosh Sehati
Kourosh Sehati | |
|---|---|
Kourosh Sehati | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 April 1978 |
| Education | George Mason University, Birkbeck, University of London |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ukraine |
| Branch/service | International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine |
| Years of service | 2025 |
| Battles/wars | |
Kourosh Sehati (کوروش صحتی in Persian) (born 7 April 1978) is an Iranian journalist, one of the well-known political and human rights activists and former leaders of the students’ movement in Iran.
Sehati was expelled from the Islamic Azad University of Varamin because of his political activities and help in the organization of the July 1999 student pro-democracy protests against the Iranian government.
Arrests
He was arrested several times between 2000 and 2004 and spent around three years in prison. While being in Sepah prison, which belongs to the Revolutionary Guards of Iran, Sehati spent eight months in a solitary cell. As a prisoner of conscience, he experienced torture. Because of his activities focused on support of the democratic movements, freedom of speech, and human rights in Iran, the authorities of Iran threatened his family members several times. The government was also behind the banishment of Gozaresh-e-Rooz newspaper and Hoviat-e-Kheesh weekly magazine, where he worked as a political editor and a member of the editorial board.
After several arrests and detention terms, he decided to proceed with his media and human rights activists from abroad for safety reasons. Sehati fled to Turkey in 2004 and was then accepted by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as a political refugee.
Sehati has lived in the United States for more than twelve years and during that time has been interviewed by many TV channels and radio stations about his activities in Iran and on the topic of current Iranian issues.
Work
Sehati worked for the Persian service of Voice of America based in Washington, D.C., as an international broadcaster, anchor, and producer from 2007 until August 2016. He worked as a news editor for the Iran International TV channel in London, UK, until the end of 2025.
His reports usually focus on political issues in Iran, as well as on human rights and democratic movements, particularly those of students, workers, and women.
He holds a BA degree in Political Science from George Mason University in Virginia and an MS degree in International Security from Birkbeck, University of London.
Military service
On 18 March 2025, Sehati announced he had joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend against the Russian invasion. He is the first Iranian foreign volunteer for Ukraine, explaining, "Russia hurt Iran a lot over the last 200 years."[1]
Personal life
His wife is Ukrainian, and they have two kids. His uncle, Ali Sehati, was executed by the Iranian government in 1981. Ali was under 18.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b Karimi, Mehran; Sharifi, Kian (27 March 2025). "Iranian Journalist Trades Microphone For Rifle To Defend Ukraine". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ http://www.iranrights.org/fa/memorial/story/38647/ali-sehati
- Witness Statement: Kourosh Sehati
- IHRDC Interview With Kourosh Sehati
- Boroumand Center - Sehati's interview about the experience in prison
- Kourosh Sehati's interview with Ahmed Shaheed, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here: Untold Stories from the Fight Against Muslim Fundamentalism
- Persian TV weekly highlights
- Prominent Iranian Activist Given Long Prison Term, Lashes