Nobel laureate Mohammadi is transferred to a Tehran hospital

Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Transferred to Tehran Hospital After Health Crisis

Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been transferred to a hospital in Tehran following more than a week of serious health concerns while imprisoned, her foundation announced Sunday. The 53-year-old Iranian human rights activist, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while incarcerated, has been granted a temporary suspension of her prison sentence on bail.

Mohammadi had been held at Zanjan prison since December before her health dramatically deteriorated. According to her foundation, she lost consciousness twice and was initially taken to a local hospital on May 1. Her family had been pleading for her transfer to specialized care in Tehran, describing her condition as critical.

“I’m relieved now. I can breathe lightly,” her brother Hamidreza Mohammadi told The Associated Press. Based in Oslo, Norway, he had previously accused Iran’s intelligence agency of blocking medical recommendations for her transfer to Tehran.

Mohammadi’s Iran-based attorney, Mostafa Nili, confirmed on social media that the transfer order came after government-appointed medical examiners determined she required continued treatment outside prison “due to her multiple illnesses” and under supervision of her own medical team.

Her foundation emphasized that the temporary suspension falls short of what is needed. “We must ensure she never returns to prison to face the 18 years remaining on her sentence. Now is the time to demand her unconditional freedom and the dismissal of all charges,” the statement said.

The activist’s health has been a growing concern for months. Family members reported that her condition worsened after she was severely beaten during her arrest in the northeastern city of Mashhad. She suffered a heart attack in March and has been managing a pre-existing blood clot in her lung that requires blood thinners and continuous monitoring.

During her recent hospitalization in Zanjan, Mohammadi experienced dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure, required supplemental oxygen, and was unable to speak, according to her brother.

The Nobel Peace Prize committee had previously called for Iranian authorities to immediately transfer Mohammadi to her dedicated medical team in Tehran, warning that “without such treatment, her life remains at risk.”

Mohammadi’s case highlights the ongoing tension between Iran’s government and its prominent human rights defenders. As a leading advocate for women’s rights in Iran, she has been repeatedly imprisoned throughout her career for her activism. Her Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 brought international attention to both her personal situation and the broader human rights challenges in Iran.

The temporary release comes amid increased international pressure on Iran regarding its treatment of political prisoners and activists. Human rights organizations have documented systematic mistreatment of detainees, including denial of adequate medical care, which they characterize as a form of additional punishment for political prisoners.

It remains unclear how long Mohammadi’s sentence suspension will last or what conditions have been attached to her temporary release. Iranian authorities have not immediately commented on the development.

The case continues to draw attention to Iran’s human rights record at a time when the country faces multiple international challenges, including ongoing tensions over its nuclear program and economic sanctions that have severely impacted its economy.

Human rights advocates maintain that Mohammadi’s situation reflects a broader pattern of suppression of dissent within Iran, particularly targeting women’s rights activists who have gained prominence following recent protest movements in the country.