ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian women’s rights advocate and journalist who has been imprisoned in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison since 2015 for her continued opposition to the Islamic republic.
Mohammadi, 51, has been actively advocating for women’s rights in Iran for over two decades, being arrested by Iranian authorities 13 times in the process. She was first arrested in 2011 for her efforts at assisting jailed activists and their families, before being released on bail two years later.
She was arrested once again in 2015 for campaigning against the Islamic republic’s use of the death penalty, and has been incarcerated since. Her award comes following Iran’s longest protest movement in the past four decades, triggered by the death in custody of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Zhina (Mahsa) Amini who was arrested for allegedly wearing a lax hijab in September 2022.
Mohammadi expressed her support for the protesters from behind bars through organizing solidarity actions inside the prison, resulting in even stricter conditions for the activist.
The imprisoned activist was awarded “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all,” read a statement from the awards committee, stating that the Amini protesters’ slogan “Jin Jiyan Azadi” (Woman Life Freedom) “suitably expresses the dedication and work” of Mohammadi.
“This year’s Peace Prize also recognises the hundreds of thousands of people who, in the preceding year, have demonstrated against the theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women,” the committee added.
Mohammadi’s family expressed their gratitude for the committee for honoring the activist with the award through a post on her Instagram page. They also congratulated the Iranian people for their continued fight for greater freedoms.
“This prestigious recognition serves as an enduring testament to the Narges Mohammadi’s tireless civic and peaceful work in bringing change and freedom to Iran,” said the family, adding “This notable honor belongs to every single one of you, the resilient, brave, courageous people of Iran, who have tirelessly and peacefully struggled for freedom.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, on Friday congratulated Mohammedi on X, formerly known as Twitter, in both Persian and Kurdish saying “awarding Nobel Peace Prize to Nergiz Mohammedi, and with it, to Iranian women shows women’s power for freedom”.
Last year’s protests in Iran initially called for greater freedoms for women before growing into an anti-government revolution as the authorities responded with violence. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands arrested.
An article by Mohammadi, written behind bars, was published by the New York Times on the one-year-anniversary of Amini’s death.
