In the summer of 2012, Ronaghi was given a short medical parole which was cut shorter after he was beaten and arrested for joining a group of relief workers who set out to aid the earthquake survivors of Sarand, East Azerbaijan. Having been recently operated on, he was specifically kicked in the kidney by security forces.[14] Physical abuse and torture, lack of medical treatment, and the effects of several hunger strikes led to Ronaghi's kidney failure. Consequently, his kidney was removed, and his remaining kidney was extremely damaged, threatening his life while in prison.[15]