On 18 June, 2023, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Iranian women’s and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to an additional year in Iran’s notorious Evin prison for alleged propaganda activities against the regime.
Nobel Women’s Initiative, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureates Shirin Ebadi (Iran), Jody Williams (USA), Tawakkol Karman (Yemen), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Maria Ressa (Phillipines), Narges Mohammadi (Iran) and Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Guatemala), vehemently condemns the further sentencing of our sister laureate.
Narges has been in prison since 2016 on politically motivated charges. Over the past three years, she has faced six additional trials, adding over 13 years to her sentence.
Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Iran, notes:
“The use of various pretexts to prevent the release of political prisoners is unfortunately a common practice in Iran. It happens frequently to many, allowing the regime to keep them incarcerated.”
Jody Williams, Chair of Nobel Women’s Initiative, highlights:
“For years the Iranian regime has used intimidation, imprisonment, and executions to sow fear and silence dissent. Almost a decade spent in prison, and a continuously lengthened sentence has not, and will not silence Narges. It is our duty to listen to her and to continue supporting Iranian people in their efforts to achieve change.”
Tania Principe, Interim Executive Director of Nobel Women’s Initiative, adds:
“Prison walls have not prevented Narges Mohammadi’s fight against violence, hate, and gender apartheid in Iran. Distance will not prevent our fight for her freedom. We stand with Narges in her courageous struggle for gender justice in Iran.”
Since September 2022, after the murder of Mahsa Amini, people of all genders have been rising up against the regime in a movement called “Women. Life. Freedom.” Tens of thousands of people have been arrested and hundreds killed for taking part in the revolution, including human rights defenders, artists, writers, journalists and anyone daring to oppose the regime.
The Government of Canada designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation on 19 June, 2024, a move widely supported and welcomed by Iranian activists due to the atrocities perpetrated by the regime. The US assigned the same designation in 2019.
Narges Mohammadi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all”. She is the fifth person to be awarded the prize while imprisoned, and only the 19th woman Nobel Peace Prize laureate, compared to over 90 men. This is sadly reflective of the dangers women activists face in fighting for peace, justice and equality.