Narges Mohammadi: Iranian Woman Jailed For Rights Work Wins 2023 Nobel Peace Prize

Narges Mohammadi, an incarcerated Iranian human rights activist, has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the decision, which stated that Ms. Mohammadi, 51, was honored for her struggle against Iran’s oppression of women.

The “tremendous personal cost” of her conflict, according to Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chairwoman of the committee.

Currently, Ms. Mohammadi is enduring a ten-year sentence in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, the capital of Iran.

The Foreign Ministry condemned the awarding of the Peace Prize as “biassed” and by “the interventionist and anti-Iran policies of some European countries.” Iran has responded by accusing the Nobel committee of meddling.

Give the award to a “person who has been convicted under the laws of a country and is currently serving a prison sentence can only be called politicising the concept of human rights and acting in a meddling manner,” according to the state news agency IRNA.

Ms. Reiss-Andersen stated at the ceremony held in Oslo on Friday that Ms. Mohammadi was awarded the prestigious honor for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”

Narges Mohammadi, an incarcerated Iranian human rights activist, has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize.

She commenced her address by uttering the phrase “woman – life – freedom”—a reference to the slogan of the recent mass demonstrations that have swept Iran.

The prize, she continued, is a recognition of the hundreds of thousands of Iranians who have demonstrated against the “theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women” over the past year. She stated that the new Nobel Prize recipient is at the forefront of this movement.

Millions of Iranians and human rights activists worldwide will celebrate this distinction. The decision of the Nobel committee also conveys a forceful message of disapproval to the Iranian government.

During the ceremony, Ms. Reiss-Andersen also urged Iran to grant Ms. Mohammadi her parole from prison so that she could attend the December award ceremony.

“If the Iranian authorities make the right decision they will release her so she can be present to receive this honour, which is what we primarily hope for.”

However, it seems improbable that the activist can collect her bounty.

“The courage and determination of the women of Iran and how they are an inspiration to the world,” the United Nations stated in a statement announcing the award.

British-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who accompanied Ms. Mohammadi to her release from Evin jail in March 2022, expressed her happiness for her comrade.

Narges Mohammadi: Iranian Woman Jailed For Rights Work Wins Nobel Peace Prize

“I am made to weep.” How much she did for everyone in Evin. Her fearless struggle against solitary confinement, execution, and violations of women’s rights in the Iranian judicial system has made Narges a source of inspiration and a pillar for the women in the female ward of Evin.

“This award belongs to every single Iranian woman who, one way or another, has been and remains a victim of injustice in Iran.”

When he learned of the situation, Ms. Mohammadi’s son Ali Rahmani, whom she had not seen in eight years, was in class.

“I was very happy and felt proud of my mother,” he told the BBC.

“It took me some time to reconcile myself with it, but initially, I was ecstatic and proud of my mother, as I am always, as I was yesterday and the day before.” This honor is bestowed upon the Iranian people. It is due to the demonstrations.”

Ms. Mohammadi was lauded for her bravery by the acting US envoy on Iran, Abram Paley, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who described her as a “freedom fighter who each time faced the reality… the cruelty of this regime.”

In addition to her current prison sentence, Ms. Mohammadi has been detained thirteen times, found guilty five times, and sentenced to 31 years. It is unknown whether the 154 lashes she was sentenced to have been administered.

In December of last year, she wrote to the BBC from prison to provide harrowing details of the sexual and physical torture of Iranian women detained during demonstrations.

Narges Mohammadi: Iranian Woman Jailed For Rights Work Wins Nobel Peace Prize

She claimed that during the protests, which started as a result of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman in police custody, such assaults had increased in frequency.

Subsequently, the unrest spread throughout the nation, with demands spanning from increased liberties to overthrowing the government.

Images of Iranian women igniting their headscarves with defiance captivated the global community. However, the Iranian government has resorted to a ruthless crackdown on the demonstrations, which have largely subsided.

Ms. Mohammadi serves as the Defenders of Human Rights Center’s deputy director.

In a 2020 interview with the BBC, Ms. Mohammadi elaborated on the motivations behind her commitment to promoting women’s rights in Iran.

“In my opinion, supporting human rights efforts and actions aimed at achieving freedom and justice anywhere in the world, whether in Iran or any other country, is very important and very heart-warming,” she continued.

The previous year, she was included in the BBC’s 100 Women, a prominent list of 100 influential and inspiring women from around the globe.

SOURCE – (BBC)