Eshragh Najafabadi
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Born | May 23, 1992 Shiraz, Iran |
| Education | Bachelor's in Civil Engineering |
| Occupation(s) | Civil engineer, athlete, volunteer rescuer |
| Years active | 2004–2013 (competitive) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Downhill mountain biking |
Eshragh Najafabadi (born May 23, 1992, in Shiraz, Iran) is an Iranian athlete, civil engineer, and former member of the Iranian national downhill cycling team.[1] He gained national recognition for his achievements in mountain biking, and later, international attention following his arrest during the 2022 Iranian protests, in what has been widely described by human rights organizations as an arbitrary and politically motivated detention.[2]
Release and International Support
[edit]Najafabadi was released on February 6, 2023, after three months in detention.
His case drew international attention:
- Theo Francken, former Belgian minister of migration, adopted his case as a political sponsorship.
- Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, chair of the German Bundestag's Legal Affairs Committee, took political sponsorship.[3]
- Sol Zanetti, a member of the National Assembly of Quebec, also expressed support.[4]
- Reza Deghati, a renowned photojournalist, and rapper Hichkas voiced public support for his release.
- A petition on Change.org demanding their freedom gathered over 15,000 signatures.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "نخستین اردوی تیم ملی کوهستان با حضورمربی ژاپنی17 دی ماه برگزار می شود". ایرنا (in Persian). 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ فردا, رادیو (2022-12-14). "«سناریوسازی امنیتی» برای شماری از هنرمندان و ورزشکاران بازداشتی در شیراز". رادیو فردا (in Persian). Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "افزایش کفالت‌های سیاسی نمایندگان اروپایی در حمایت از معترضان ایرانی". ایندیپندنت فارسی (in Persian). 2022-12-16. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ Pellus, Johanna (2023-01-21). "Les élus de Québec solidaire parrainent des prisonniers politiques iraniens". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2025-06-08.
