“Women will not give up. We are fuelled by a will to survive, whether we are inside prison or outside.” — Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2023
Narges Mohammadi’s life is in danger. As sister Nobel Peace Prize laureates, we unite in unwavering solidarity with her. We are horrified by the violence, torture, and relentless persecution she has endured for defending human rights. We condemn in the strongest terms the brutality inflicted upon her.
On 12 December 2025, while peacefully attending the funeral of Iranian human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi, Narges was violently and unjustly re-arrested in Mashhad, Iran—the latest in a long pattern of repeated detentions and imprisonment. Narges was beaten, threatened with death, and subjected to cruel psychological and physical abuse. Her fragile health has been gravely endangered. The Narges Foundation’s recent statement documents the horrific torture she has suffered, including severe beatings, threats, and conditions that put her life at risk.
The assaults and threats she faces underscore the grave risks confronting all those who challenge oppression. Narges’s courage in the face of such violence is remarkable. We echo Narges’s call for the release of all human rights defenders and political prisoners in Iran. The regime’s widespread and brutal repression, and ongoing retaliation against those who speak out, makes immediate international action essential.
Following a sham trial on 8 February 2026, Narges now faces more than 17 additional years of active imprisonment, contributing to a total of 44 years of sentences imposed on her over her lifetime, along with other punitive measures such as flogging and travel bans. This extreme punishment for defending human rights is a flagrant violation of international law and a profound injustice.
Nobel Women's Initiative demands the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi, full access to legal counsel of her choosing, and the medical care she critically needs. We stand with Narges and all those in Iran and around the world who risk everything to fight for freedom, justice, and human dignity.
We, her sisters in the fight for peace and justice, will not remain silent. Narges Mohammadi must be free.
Learn more and take action: Free Narges Campaign and Narges Foundation
#FreeNarges
Issued by Nobel Women’s Initiative
Daina Ruduša
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.