- Narges Mohammadi wins Nobel Peace Prize.
- Honored for women’s rights activism.
- Iranian activist’s dedication recognized.
The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi “for her struggle against the oppression of women in Iran and for advancing human rights and universal freedom.”
Advocate for the rights of incarcerated Iranian women, Narges Mohammadi, has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize.
“For her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all,” the 51-year-old activist was honoured with the award.
The prize also honoured hundreds of thousands of Iranian women protesters.
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Anoosheh Ashoori, who previously resided in the infamous Evin prison in Iran for five years (the same facility where Ms. Mohammadi is serving multiple sentences), told that his concern for her has increased in light of her Nobel Peace Prize win.
Ashoori said he met “many other innocent people” there, and some “are still there, currently enduring that hell.”
During his time at the medical facility, he reportedly observed shattered glass and blood on the floor and was informed that the director of the prison had pushed and thrown Ms. Mohammadi through a glass door; he further stated, “He was quite notorious for his atrocities.”
When asked whether he believed the award could potentially affect her treatment and sentence in the jail, he responded, “I am concerned because I am familiar with the behaviour of these monsters. “There are potential consequences, and my utmost concern is for her safety.”
In light of the award announcement, Ms. Mohammadi pledged to be “more resilient, determined, optimistic, and enthusiastic.”
She told the New York Times, “I will ceaselessly pursue the realisation of democracy, freedom, and equality.”
“Standing alongside the brave mothers of Iran, I will continue to fight against the relentless discrimination, tyranny and gender-based oppression by the oppressive religious government until the liberation of women,” according to her.
The family issued a statement in which they described the honour as a “source of solace for our indescribable suffering” and “something that could never compensate” them for the time she had spent imprisoned.
Do you know Narges Mohammadi?
Ms. Mohammadi, a prominent Iranian human rights activist, opposes the death penalty.
Since being convicted of “acting against national security” in 2011, she has spent over thirteen years in prison. Specifically, she was confined for eleven years in 2011.
This sentence was retaliation for her efforts as vice president of the Iranian Defenders of Human Rights Centre.
A 16-year prison sentence was imposed on her by an Iranian court in 2016 for “founding and directing the unlawful faction Legam,” which advocated against capital punishment.
At the time, her incarceration elicited censure from the international community.
While serving her term in British-Iranian Evin prison in Tehran, she and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe went on hunger strike.
She was detained in November of last year after attending a memorial for a victim of violent 2019 protests. She was released in October 2020.
After five convictions and 31 years in prison, she was currently doing time for “spreading propaganda”.
“Huge individual cost”
On Friday, Ms. Mohammadi received the 2023 Peace Prize in Oslo. The Nobel committee called her ordeal “devastatingly personal.”
“She advocates for women against systemic oppression and discrimination,” said the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen.
“This prize is first and foremost a recognition of the very important work of a whole movement in Iran with its undisputed leader, Nargis Mohammadi,” according to her.
“The Nobel committee does not have the authority to determine the prize’s impact.” We sincerely hope that this serves as motivation to persist in the endeavour in whatever manner this movement deems appropriate.
In Paris, Ms. Mohammadi’s exiled Iranian activist spouse Taghi Ramahi said the award will “fortify Narges’ struggle for human rights.”
“However, this is a prize for the woman, life, and freedom (movement),” he further elaborated, alluding to the expression that gained prominence in Iran amid demonstrations against the detention of Mahsa Amini by the police one year ago.
In the interim, Fars, an Iranian state-run news agency, attributed Ms. Mohammadi’s award to “the Westerners.” They characterized her as an individual who “had repeatedly generated headlines for her actions that compromised national security.”
Ms. Mohammadi is the second Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner after Shirin Eadi in 2003. She is the nineteenth woman to do so.
The award has been previously bestowed upon Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid activist from South Africa, Barack Obama, a former president of the United States, and Malala Yousafzai, an activist from Pakistan.
Russian human rights organisation Memorial, Belarusian dissident Ales Bialiatski, and Ukrainian Centre for Civil Liberties won last year.
On Friday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated that Ms. Mohammadi’s receipt of this year’s award “highlighted the resolve and bravery of Iranian women.”
“There have been incidents of harassment directed at them due to their attire or lack thereof. “They are subject to ever more stringent legal, social, and economic sanctions,” said Elizabeth Throssell, a spokesperson for the OHCHR.
“This shows how Iranian women inspire the globe with their courage and commitment.”
