In a powerful rebuke to Tehran's theocratic leadership and a significant show of support for anti-government activists in Iran, Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned women's rights advocate, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 6. The Nobel Committee praised her dedication to women's rights and her tireless efforts in advocating for the abolition of the death penalty.
The Nobel committee expressed its desire for Mohammadi's release so that she could personally accept the prestigious award in December. Berit Reiss-Andersen, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, stated;
"This prize is first and foremost a recognition of the very important work of a whole movement in Iran, with its undisputed leader, Narges Mohammadi. If the Iranian authorities make the right decision, they will release her so that she can be present to receive this honor."
Tehran has not yet officially responded to the news of Mohammadi's Nobel Peace Prize. However, the semi-official news agency Fars accused her of receiving the award from "Westerners" due to her alleged acts against national security.
Narges Mohammadi is currently serving multiple sentences totaling around 12 years in Tehran's Evin Prison. These charges include spreading propaganda against the state. She is also the deputy head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, a non-governmental organization led by Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Mohammadi becomes the 19th woman to win the 122-year-old Nobel Peace Prize in the history of the award and the first since Maria Ressa of the Philippines shared the prize with Russia's Dmitry Muratov in 2021.
"This Nobel Prize will embolden Narges' fight for human rights, but more importantly, this is, in fact, a prize for the 'women, life, and freedom' movement," Narges Mohammadi's husband, Taghi Rahmani, stated.
The Nobel Peace Prize, valued at SEK 11mn (approximately $1mn), will be formally presented in Oslo on December 10, marking the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, who established the award in his 1895 will. Past laureates of the Nobel Peace Prize include prominent figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
Berit Reiss-Andersen commenced her announcement speech by uttering the Farsi words for "woman, life, freedom," echoing the slogan of Iranian protesters. She emphasized that the award recognized the countless individuals who have protested against discrimination and the oppression of women in Iran.
This significant honor comes amid reports of an Iranian teenage girl being hospitalized in a coma after a confrontation on the Tehran metro for not wearing a hijab, an incident that Iranian authorities have denied.
Narges Mohammadi's Nobel Peace Prize victory also follows the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police for allegedly violating Iran's dress code for women over a year ago. Her death sparked nationwide protests, posing one of the most significant challenges to Iran's government in recent years, and was met with a violent crackdown.
In response to the news, the United Nations human rights office praised the bravery of Iranian women, stating;
"We've seen their courage and determination in the face of reprisals, intimidation, violence, and detention. They've been harassed for what they do or don't wear. There are increasingly stringent legal, social, and economic measures against them...they are an inspiration to the world."
Hamidreza Mohammed, Narges Mohammadi's brother, expressed hope that the Nobel Prize would make Iranian campaigners safer, considering the dangerous situation for activists in Iran. However, experts believe that while the Nobel Peace Prize could ease international pressure on Iranian dissidents, it is unlikely to lead to her immediate release.
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