Omidreza Mirsayafi was a 29-year-old cultural blogger. In high school, Mirsayafi was interested in physics and mathematics but after graduating in 1999, his interest drifted to journalism. He started his blog in 2006 as a place to share culture and music by posting interviews and music of various musicians. Over time, he began to incorporate more politics into his blogs, beginning with his thoughts on liberty. His blogs became progressively more politically driven until finally in June of 2007, he condemned the memory of the late Revolution leader Kohmeini. 

In April of 2008 he was arrested, accused of insulting Iran’s leaders and its Islamic character, and placed in solitary confinement in Evin prison. After he was released he was called in for his hearing the following November where he was sentenced to 30 months in Evin. He often talked of suicide while serving time in Evin and he requested more of his prescription medication that helped regulate his heart. On March 18, 2009, Mirsayfi was found dead. Authorities claim that he overdosed on his medication. However, instead of being sent to a hospital, where he could have been properly cared for, Mirsayfi was kept in the prison clinic where he later died. Prison authorities stated he intentionally overdosed on his medication, but his family along with the general public believe the intense torture caused his death.