We, Nobel Peace Prize laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, express our deepest alarm at the critical health condition of our sister, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi, unjustly imprisoned in Iran.
Narges Mohammadi’s life is in danger.
Narges is not only a globally recognized human rights defender, she is a mother separated from her children, a daughter, a sister, and a tireless feminist who has dedicated her life to human rights, women’s freedom, and dignity. The last time we spoke with her, she shared that the hardest part of her imprisonment is the distance from her children, the moments she is forced to miss, and the pain of loving them from behind prison walls.
Her brother, Hamidreza Mohammadi said the family is “shattered”: “I wake up every day with the fear of hearing the news of her death… This is no longer just imprisonment—it is a slow-motion death… This must stop now.”
According to the Narges Foundation and medical sources, her condition has become critical, including severe weight loss, unstable blood pressure, and serious cardiac symptoms.
On May 1, following a catastrophic deterioration, including loss of consciousness and a severe cardiac crisis, she was transferred from Zanjan prison to a hospital. Her legal team confirmed that repeated episodes of chest pain and worsening symptoms led doctors to order an emergency transfer.
The Zanjan Provincial Forensic Medical Commission has recommended a one-month suspension of her sentence for treatment, but this remains subject to approval by the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office.
While the transfer is a critical step, it comes after prolonged medical neglect and does not remove the danger she faces. She urgently requires sustained access to independent, specialized medical care, free from interference, and must not be returned to prison prematurely.
Her situation unfolds at a time when civilians in Iran face the compounded impact of conflict, military attacks, repression and systemic violations of their rights. Women, human rights defenders and political prisoners are being directly targeted.
Narges’ continued detention under these circumstances is not only a grave injustice—it is a form of gendered repression and a clear violation of international human rights law. Both international standards and Iran’s own legal provisions allow for medical release in such cases. These must be applied immediately.
We call for:
- Immediate, unrestricted access to independent, life-saving specialized medical care, including transfer to her medical team in Tehran.
- Immediate, coordinated action by governments, the UN, the EU, parliamentarians, advocates, and feminists to secure her medical release and ensure access to life-saving care.
- The immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi.
- The release of all political prisoners, including women detained for their peaceful advocacy.
At this moment of urgency, we reaffirm: there must be an end to the persecution of those who stand for justice, freedom, and human dignity.
We hold close in our thoughts Narges’ family, her sister activists in Iran, and her dedicated team — all those who continue to stand with her and for her. Your courage, love, and steadfastness matter deeply.
This is an urgent humanitarian and compassionate call.
Narges Mohammadi’s courage has inspired the world—but she is, above all, a human being whose children and family are waiting in fear today.
We, her sisters in the struggle for freedom and justice, stand with her in unwavering resistance and solidarity.
Narges Mohammadi must be free. Her life depends on it.
Take action: Free Narges Campaign and Narges Foundation
#FreeNarges
BREAKING NEWS : Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Transferred to Hospital
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Nobel Women’s Initiative is led by eight women Nobel Peace Prize laureates - Jody Williams (USA), Shirin Ebadi (Iran), Tawakkol Karman (Yemen), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Guatemala), Narges Mohammadi (Iran), Maria Ressa (Philippines) and Oleksandra Matviichuk (Ukraine). Women are crucial to attaining lasting peace, and yet in times of war and conflict they are seen as victims, and too often excluded from formal peace-building processes. The laureates know the importance of women peacebuilders, and the challenges they face firsthand. At NWI they work together to use the platform and access that the Nobel Peace Prize offers to elevate the voices and support the work of women peace activists around the world.