Nobel Laureate in Critical Condition Following Assault in Iranian Prison

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has issued an urgent appeal to Iran, demanding an end to what it describes as “life-threatening mistreatment” of imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. According to recent reports from the committee, Mohammadi has endured severe physical abuse while in detention, raising serious international concerns about her well-being.

Mohammadi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her human rights advocacy, was arrested in December by plain-clothes agents while attending the funeral of Khosrow Alikordi, a prominent human rights lawyer. Since her arrest, the committee reports that she has been subjected to brutal treatment, including being beaten with wooden sticks and batons.

The committee described disturbing details of her mistreatment, noting that Mohammadi was dragged across the ground by her hair, resulting in torn sections of her scalp and open wounds. Additionally, she reportedly endured repeated kicks to her genital and pelvic areas, leaving her in severe pain and raising concerns about possible bone fractures.

“The Committee is horrified by these acts, and reiterates that Ms. Mohammadi’s imprisonment is arbitrary and unjust,” said Committee Chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes in a statement. “Her only ‘offence’ is the peaceful exercise of her fundamental rights – freedom of expression, association and assembly – in defence of women’s equality and human dignity.”

Iranian authorities have provided a different account of the events leading to her arrest. An Iranian prosecutor claimed that Mohammadi made provocative remarks at the memorial ceremony in Mashhad and encouraged attendees to chant “norm-breaking slogans” that allegedly disturbed the peace, according to Reuters.

This latest detention adds to Mohammadi’s long history of imprisonment. She has spent much of the past two decades in Iran’s notorious Evin prison, which has been widely criticized by international human rights organizations for its harsh conditions and treatment of political prisoners.

Mohammadi’s case has become emblematic of Iran’s broader crackdown on dissent, particularly following the nationwide protests that erupted in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. These protests represented one of the most significant challenges to the Iranian government in recent years and were met with severe repression.

When Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year, she was unable to attend the ceremony in Oslo due to her imprisonment. Instead, her children, Ali and Kiana Rahmani, accepted the award on her behalf in a poignant ceremony that highlighted her absence and ongoing detention.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s statement explicitly connects Mohammadi’s situation to the broader pattern of repression in Iran: “Mohammadi’s ordeal is yet another grim example of the brutal repression that has followed the mass protests in Iran, where countless women and men have risked their lives to demand freedom, equality and basic human rights.”

The committee has called on Tehran to release Mohammadi immediately and ensure she receives proper medical care. Their appeal comes amid heightened international tensions involving Iran, including concerns about its nuclear program and its support for regional militant groups.

Human rights organizations have consistently ranked Iran among the countries with the worst records on civil liberties and political rights, with frequent reports of arbitrary detention, torture, and unfair trials of activists, journalists, and political opponents.

As international pressure mounts on the Iranian government regarding Mohammadi’s case, the Nobel Committee’s statement serves as a reminder of the ongoing human rights challenges in the country and the personal cost paid by those who advocate for change.