In brief
Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner known for her advocacy for women's rights in Iran, has been arrested during a memorial for a deceased lawyer. The Narges Foundation confirmed her arrest and condemned it as a violent act. Mohammadi was previously released on medical grounds but had been serving multiple sentences in Evin prison since 2021. Her arrest is part of a broader crackdown on activism in Iran.
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's detention in the eastern city of Mashhad, alongside other activists. They have called for the immediate release of the 53-year-old and her fellow detainees.
Mohammadi, awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts against female oppression in Iran, was earlier given a temporary release from prison on medical grounds in December 2024. She was held for three weeks before being expected to return to Evin prison, notorious for housing political prisoners.
Her recent arrest occurred as she attended a memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer who was found dead in suspicious circumstances. During the ceremony, attendees reportedly shouted slogans such as death to the dictator and long live Iran.
Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, described the situation as concerning, indicating a recent intensification of government crackdowns on dissent.
Over the past year, Mohammadi has called out for freedom and human rights during a time of heightened repression in Iran. She has faced numerous arrests throughout her career, accumulating a staggering 36 years of prison sentences and 154 lashes for her activism.
