Iran: Nobel Prize for Narges Mohammadi 'sends clear message' on human rights to authorities

‘They have subjected her to years of human rights violations, including torture, death threats and denial of specialised medical care’ - Agnès Callamard

Reacting to news that unjustly-imprisoned Iranian human rights defender Narges Mohammadi has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

“Narges Mohammadi receives this prize today from behind bars in Iran where she has been unjustly imprisoned since 2021 solely for her human rights activism. 

“For years, she has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the dire human rights situation in Iran. Even from her prison cell, she condemned the authorities’ bloody crackdown on nationwide protests, called for the abolition of the death penalty and the prohibition of solitary confinement, and exposed sexual violence against women protesters in detention.  

 

“In a cruel move exposing the inhumanity at the heart of the Iranian authorities’ tactics to repress critical voices, they have subjected her to years of human rights violations, including torture, death threats and denial of specialised medical care. They even prevented her from seeing her two children. 

“Despite the enormous personal cost, the unrelenting attempts to silence her, and the prospect of a life behind bars, Narges Mohammadi defiantly continues to call for change not just for her, but for all women, men and children in Iran.  

 

“Her recognition today by the Nobel Peace committee sends a clear message to the Iranian authorities that their crackdown on peaceful critics and human rights defenders will not go unchallenged. 

“The international community must make renewed efforts to push for Narges Mohammadi’s immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of all other women and men who have been unjustly imprisoned simply for peacefully exercising their human rights, including in the aftermath of the ‘Woman Life Freedom’ protests.” 

Narges Mohammadi is currently serving multiple sentences amounting to a total of 11 years and 11 months in prison, in addition to other cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments - including a sentence of 154 lashes.