As one of Iran’s most respected human rights activists, Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her 20 years of courageous fight against the oppression of women in Iran and equal human rights for all despite being put behind bars. She spoke with urgency about issues including terrorist threats, migration, and instability being the main cause of human rights abuses, stating that “Human rights abuses will keep propagating across state lines in the age of globalization, or human dignity shall be acknowledged worldwide,” (“NOBEL PEACE PRIZE RECEIVED by CHILDREN of IMPRISONED NARGES MOHAMMADI”). Even on the day her Nobel announcement was being broadcasted in Evin Prison, she and her cellmates shouted “Woman, Life, Freedom!”, making the catchphrase a motivation in all of Iran.
On December 12, 2025, Mohammadi was arrested during a memorial ceremony for a lawyer recently found dead in his office, Khosrow Alikordi (Karadsheh and Tanno). Mohammadi has spent 10 years of her life in and out of prison, most recently in November 2021, accused of spreading “propaganda” against the state that threatened Iran’s national security. After the arrest, Narges Mohammadi’s husband Taghi Rahmani, who is living in exile in Paris with his children,told the New York Times that her whereabouts are not confirmed (“Nobel Peace Laureate Narges Mohammadi Arrested Again in Iran”).
On the same day of Mohammadi’s arrest, the Norwegian Nobel Committee condemned the brutal arrest of the situation, calling upon Iranian authorities to immediately release her. “The Norwegian Nobel Committee calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately clarify Mohammadi’s whereabouts, ensure her safety and integrity, and to release her without conditions,” the Committee said in the statement issued by its chairman, “The Committee stands in solidarity with Narges Mohammadi and all those in Iran who work peacefully for human rights, the rule of law, and freedom of expression.” (Storesund-Schwarz). According to the Narges Foundation, Mohammadi has been sentenced to many prison terms, making a total of 36 years on charges including “disobeying and resisting orders” and “collaborating with Israel”.
A week before her arrest, in the Times Magazine Mohammadi wrote, “their peace is disrupted by surveillance, censorship, arbitrary arrest, torture, and the constant threat of violence,” hoping to raise awareness to the need to support Iran’s civil society and equal human rights (Karadsheh and Tanno). In her interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in December 2024, she remained strong in her three-week temporary release from prison, saying: “Whether I am inside Evin or outside Evin, my goal is very clear, and until we achieve democracy, we are not going to stop. We want freedom and we want equality. So, whichever side of the wall I am, I will continue my struggle.” Narges Mohammadi has also explained during the interview about her helplessness of not being able to show up for her 18-year-old twins (Amanpour). Upon the temporary release, she was able to speak to her children through a video call for the first time in three years, not being able to see them for over a decade.
The 3-week temporary release was later confirmed to be a medical release for her to recover from a surgery where she removed a bone suspected to be cancerous from her leg. The Free Narges Coalition had demanded with concerns for her health, stating that “The Free Narges Coalition steering committee expresses urgent concern over the deterioration of health of imprisoned 2023 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran’s notorious Evin prison…On 30 July, the coalition was informed about the results of new medical tests and reports, carried out on 6 July after a 45-day delay, which showed a worrying deterioration of her health due to cardiovascular risks, gastrointestinal complications, and spinal disc herniation…” (“Joint Statement: Free Narges Coalition Calls for Urgent Release and Medical Care as Narges Mohammadi’s Health Deteriorates in Prison”). For the past 8 months, Nages Mohammadi has been “suffering from acute back and knee pain, including a herniated spinal disc, according to the medical specialists and MRI and CT scan examinations.” Despite the physical pain, long separations from her children, and years spent behind prison walls, Narges Mohammadi continues to hold onto the hope that her sufferingwill one day lead to freedom, dignity, and justice.
“I hope one day to be able to tell you that executions have stopped in Iran and that women in my country have got their rights and that we have a better human rights situation in Iran.” –Narges Mohammadi
Works Cited
Amanpour, Christiane. “Exclusive: Iranian Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Says Returning to Prison Won’t Stop Her Fight for Equality.” CNN, 18 Dec. 2024, http://www.cnn.com/2024/12/18/world/iran-nobel-laureate-narges-mohammadi-interview-intl.
“Joint Statement: Free Narges Coalition Calls for Urgent Release and Medical Care as Narges Mohammadi’s Health Deteriorates in Prison.” PEN America, Aug. 2024, pen.org/press-release/joint-statement-free-narges-coalition-calls-for-urgent-release-and-medical-care-as-narges-mohammadis-health-deteriorates-in-prison/. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Karadsheh, Jomana, and Sophie Tanno. “Iran Arrests Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi, Supporters Say.” CNN, 12 Dec. 2025, http://www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/middleeast/iran-nobel-winner-mohammadi-arrested-intl.
“Nobel Peace Laureate Narges Mohammadi Arrested Again in Iran.” Democracy Now!, 15 Dec. 2025, http://www.democracynow.org/2025/12/15/narges_mohammadi_iran. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
“NOBEL PEACE PRIZE RECEIVED by CHILDREN of IMPRISONED NARGES MOHAMMADI.” Bru Times News, 2026, http://www.brutimes.com/news/world-news/nobel-peace-prize-received-by-children-of-imprisoned-narges-mohammadi. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Storesund-Schwarz, Daniel. “Norwegian Nobel Committee Condemns the Brutal Arrest of Narges Mohammadi – Nobel Peace Prize.” Nobel Peace Prize, 12 Dec. 2025, http://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/press/press-releases/norwegian-nobel-committee-condemns-the-brutal-arrest-of-narges-mohammadi. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
VICTORIA KIM
- VICTORIA KIM
- VICTORIA KIM
- VICTORIA KIM
