Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Detained in Iran
Iranian security forces have detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate and women's rights activist Narges Mohammadi, according to her foundation. The Narges Foundation reported that Ms. Mohammadi, 53, was arrested in the eastern city of Mashhad, along with several other activists.
International Reaction
The Nobel Committee expressed concern regarding the arrest of Narges Mohammadi. The committee called on authorities to clarify her whereabouts, ensure her safety and integrity, and release her unconditionally. Iranian authorities have not issued a public statement concerning the incident.
Background on Narges Mohammadi
Ms. Mohammadi received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her work against female oppression in Iran and her efforts to promote human rights. In December 2024, she was granted a temporary release from Tehran's Evin prison for three weeks on medical grounds. She had been held at Evin prison since 2021 and was serving multiple sentences, with an expected return to detention following her medical leave.
Circumstances of the Arrest
The recent detention reportedly occurred as Ms. Mohammadi was attending a memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer whose death in his office last week prompted calls for an independent inquiry from the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights. During the ceremony, activists reportedly chanted slogans such as "death to the dictator" and "long live Iran."
Taghi Rahmani, Ms. Mohammadi's husband, informed BBC Persian that her arrest was witnessed by the lawyer's brother. He characterized the action as contrary to human rights laws and a form of retribution, adding that the state's enforcement measures have intensified recently.