🇮🇷 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Detained Again in Iran
Prominent human rights defender Narges Mohammadi, awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, has reportedly been arrested while attending a memorial event in Mashhad, according to supporters and rights groups.
The Narges Foundation announced that the 53-year-old activist was taken into custody during a ceremony honoring a human rights lawyer who recently died under unclear circumstances. Iranian authorities have not issued any public statement, leaving it uncertain whether she will be sent back to prison to complete her previous sentence.
🔎 A Growing Crackdown on Civil Society
Mohammadi’s arrest comes amid a wider and intensifying crackdown on activists, lawyers, and civil society groups as Iran navigates economic pressures, international sanctions, and heightened regional tensions.
Her supporters described the arrest as “violent”, stating that security forces also detained several other activists at the scene.
The event was held to honor Khosrow Alikordi, a 46-year-old lawyer and human rights advocate found dead in his office earlier this month. While officials claimed he died of a heart attack, more than 80 Iranian lawyers have demanded a deeper investigation.
The Narges Foundation condemned the arrests, calling them a grave violation of basic freedoms and demanded the immediate release of all detainees.
📹 Footage Shows Mohammadi Leading Chants
Videos circulating online appear to show Mohammadi speaking to the crowd without a headscarf and leading chants referencing Majidreza Rahnavard — a man executed publicly in 2022.
Mohammadi has been on medical leave from prison since December 2024 due to serious health issues, including heart complications and the need for ongoing care. Doctors have repeatedly advised extending her leave for another six months.
The Free Narges Coalition warned that forcing her back into prison could severely threaten her health.
📘 A Lifetime of Resistance
An engineer by profession, Narges Mohammadi has become one of Iran’s most prominent voices for human rights. She has been:
- Arrested 13 times
- Convicted in five separate cases
- Given cumulative sentences exceeding 30 years
Her latest imprisonment began in 2021 after she attended a memorial for a protester killed during Iran’s nationwide demonstrations.