Nargis Mohammadi, imprisoned for 31 years in Iran, whose Nobel Prize was received by her children
The twins of imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Nargis Mohammadi received the Nobel Peace Prize in their mother’s absence during a ceremony in Oslo, the capital of Norway.
51-year-old Nargis Mohammadi, who fought against oppression of women in Iran, is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in Tehran, while she was sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison.
Nargis‘ children read out a speech of their mother, secretly delivered to them from an Iranian prison, in which Nargis criticized Iran’s ‘tyrannical’ government. He further said that “Nargis said in his speech that ‘Iranian people will overcome oppression and dictatorship with perseverance and there is no doubt about it, this is certain.’
Committee Chairperson Barrett Rhys Anderson said that Nargis Mohammadi is paying a ‘heavy price’ for her struggle.
He said that Nargis Mohammadi is currently serving a total of 31 years of imprisonment in Iran and she has also been sentenced to 154 lashes.
Rhys Anderson opened his address with the words ‘Women, Life, Freedom’, which have also emerged as a slogan during recent protests in Iran.
He said that this award was given in recognition of the struggle of thousands of Iranians who have been fighting for the past one year “against the Iranian government’s policies targeting women and discriminating against them.” was also headed by Nargis Mohammadi.
Rhys Anderson said that “Millions of Iranians will be happy for Nargis Mohammadi’s success and peace award, and at the same time, human rights activists around the world will be celebrating in this regard.”
The decision of the Nobel Committee is also an expression of strong displeasure with the decisions of the Iranian authorities.
Before the Nobel Prize ceremony, Rhys Anderson also said that “the Iranian government should immediately release Nargis Mohammadi from prison so that she can come and receive her award at the ceremony in December.”
However, the chances of her being released to receive the award are slim at present.
The United Nations says that this award “represents the courage and bravery of Iranian women and these women are an example for people around the world.”
Iranian-born British social worker Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe spent time in Tehran’s Evan Prison with Nargis Mohammadi, but was released in March 2022 and said she was happy her friend had been rewarded.
He said that I feel like crying. He did a lot for all of us in Avon Jail. Nargis Evan Jail is a pillar and example for the women of the women’s ward as she has fought fearlessly against the violations of women’s rights.
This award is for every woman in Iran who has been a victim of injustice in Iran in one way or another.
Apart from spending a long time in prison, Nargis has been arrested 13 times in the past and sentenced five times.
According to him, such violent incidents are very common during the protests, which began in September 2022 after the death of 22-year-old Mehsa Amini.
These violent protests then spread across the country, with demands ranging from the overthrow of the government in Iran to independence.
Meanwhile, Iranian women burned their headscarves in protest and these images became popular worldwide.
The protests were heavily cracked down on by the Iranian authorities and have now almost died down. Nargis Mohammadi is also the deputy head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center. Last year, she was included in the 100 Most Influential Women list.