Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been arrested in Iran, according to reports from her supporters.
Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate celebrated for her unwavering commitment to human rights, has reportedly been detained in Mashhad, Iran, during a memorial for a fellow human rights advocate. Her arrest highlights the ongoing challenges faced by activists in Iran, where the climate for civil liberties remains daunting amid external pressures and internal dissent. Mohammadi’s resilience serves not only as a beacon of hope for her supporters but also as a poignant reminder of the broader struggle for human rights in the region.
Supporters of Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, have indicated that she was arrested while attending a memorial ceremony in Mashhad, Iran. The Narges Foundation reported that the 53-year-old human rights activist was taken into custody during an event honoring Khosrow Alikordi, a human rights lawyer who died recently under mysterious circumstances. As of now, Iranian authorities have yet to comment on Mohammadi’s detention, leaving uncertainty regarding her potential return to prison to serve a prior sentence.
This latest arrest occurs against the backdrop of increasing repression of activists and civil society figures within Iran, which finds itself grappling with international sanctions, economic hardships, and elevated regional tensions. Mohammadi’s supporters allege that she was “violently detained” by police forces, alongside several other participants who were also apprehended during the memorial.
The memorial was organized in remembrance of Alikordi, a 46-year-old lawyer and rights advocate, who was reported to have died from a heart attack—a claim that has prompted skepticism, considering that over 80 legal practitioners have signed a statement demanding more clarity regarding his untimely passing.
The Narges Foundation has urgently called for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained during the ceremony, asserting that such arrests represent a grave infringement on basic freedoms. This incident recalls the larger pattern of regular protests and calls for reform witnessed across the nation.
Footage circulating online seemingly depicts Mohammadi addressing mourners without a headscarf while leading chants in memory of Majidreza Rahnavard, who was executed publicly in 2022. Mohammadi has a history of health issues and was granted temporary medical leave from prison in December 2024. Originally meant to last three weeks, her leave was extended as she required surgery for a bone lesion and ongoing cardiac treatment.
The Free Narges Coalition has previously stated that doctors had recommended that she remain on medical leave for at least six additional months, further warning that a return to prison could severely compromise her health. An engineer by training, Mohammadi has been arrested 13 times and condemned in five separate cases, accumulating cumulative sentences that exceed 30 years. Her most recent imprisonment began in 2021 after she participated in a memorial for a protester killed during widespread demonstrations in Iran.
As the situation continues to unfold, the strength and perseverance of activists like Narges Mohammadi serve as important reminders of the pursuit of justice and human rights around the world.
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