Iranian security forces have violently arrested Nobel Peace Prize winner and women's rights activist Narges Mohammadi, her foundation has said. The Narges Foundation stated that her brother confirmed Ms Mohammadi was detained in the eastern city of Mashhad, along with other activists. They have called for the immediate release of the 53-year-old and the activists detained alongside her. Iran does not appear to have commented. Ms Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her activism against female oppression in Iran and promoting human rights.
In December 2024, she was granted a temporary release from jail for three weeks on medical grounds, after being held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since 2021. She was expected to return to prison soon after, where she was serving multiple sentences. Her latest arrest reportedly occurred while she was attending a memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer who was found dead in his office last week. Norway-based group Iran Human Rights had called for an independent inquiry into his death, citing suspicious circumstances.
Several other activists were detained at the ceremony, where they reportedly shouted slogans including death to the dictator and long live Iran. Taghi Rahmani, Ms Mohammadi's husband, claimed she was arrested violently and described the act as a violation of human rights laws.
Ms Mohammadi had recently accused the Iranian authorities of intensifying repression since the June ceasefire with Israel. Last week, she wrote an article for Time magazine detailing how the Iranian state controls every aspect of personal or public life, stating, Their peace is disrupted by surveillance, censorship, arbitrary arrest, torture, and the constant threat of violence. She also mentioned threats from regime agents, and has refused to comply with mandatory hijab laws and has met with fellow activists across Iran. Over her lifetime, she has been arrested 13 times and sentenced to over 36 years in prison along with 154 lashes, according to her foundation.}
In December 2024, she was granted a temporary release from jail for three weeks on medical grounds, after being held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since 2021. She was expected to return to prison soon after, where she was serving multiple sentences. Her latest arrest reportedly occurred while she was attending a memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer who was found dead in his office last week. Norway-based group Iran Human Rights had called for an independent inquiry into his death, citing suspicious circumstances.
Several other activists were detained at the ceremony, where they reportedly shouted slogans including death to the dictator and long live Iran. Taghi Rahmani, Ms Mohammadi's husband, claimed she was arrested violently and described the act as a violation of human rights laws.
Ms Mohammadi had recently accused the Iranian authorities of intensifying repression since the June ceasefire with Israel. Last week, she wrote an article for Time magazine detailing how the Iranian state controls every aspect of personal or public life, stating, Their peace is disrupted by surveillance, censorship, arbitrary arrest, torture, and the constant threat of violence. She also mentioned threats from regime agents, and has refused to comply with mandatory hijab laws and has met with fellow activists across Iran. Over her lifetime, she has been arrested 13 times and sentenced to over 36 years in prison along with 154 lashes, according to her foundation.}
