Narges Mohammadi sentenced to 6 years in prison: New verdict against Nobel laureate in Iran
An Iranian court has sentenced prominent human rights activist Narges Mohammadi , the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, to an additional six years in prison, a move reflecting the continued crackdown on dissenting voices within the Islamic Republic. This sentence adds to a series of previous rulings against Mohammadi for her ongoing human rights activism from within her prison cell.
Details of the new ruling and the charges
The activist's lawyer, Mustafa Nili, told AFP that his client was convicted of "assembly and conspiracy to commit crimes," which resulted in a six-year prison sentence. The sentence was not limited to imprisonment; it also included supplementary penalties such as a two-year travel ban, a ban on joining political parties and social groups, and a similar ban on using a smartphone.
Nili noted that the judiciary also sentenced Mohammadi to a year and a half in prison for "engaging in propaganda activities" against the regime, in addition to two years of exile in the city of Khusf in South Khorasan province in eastern Iran. The lawyer explained that the verdict is not final and is subject to appeal, expressing hope for his client's temporary release to receive necessary medical treatment given her deteriorating health.
Narges Mohammadi: An icon of struggle behind bars
Narges Mohammadi, 53, is one of the most prominent human rights activists in Iran and the Middle East. Her long struggle culminated in her being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023, in recognition of her efforts to "combat the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all." Mohammadi serves as vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Mohammadi has spent most of the past decade moving between Iranian prisons, where authorities have repeatedly arrested her for her campaigns against the death penalty, her staunch defense of the rights of political prisoners, and her opposition to the mandatory hijab. Since 2015, the activist has been denied access to her twin children, who live in Paris, adding a tragic human dimension to her case.
General context and impact of the ruling
This verdict comes at a time of ongoing internal tension in Iran since the outbreak of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests in September 2022, following the death of young activist Mahsa Amini. Despite being imprisoned in the notorious Evin Prison, Mohammadi has continued to make her voice heard, smuggling messages out and organizing protests within the prison in solidarity with the demonstrators, which has subjected her to further legal persecution.
The verdict carries clear political implications, as it is seen internationally as a defiant message from Tehran to the international community and global human rights organizations that have celebrated Mohammadi. It also highlights the Iranian judiciary's approach of "accumulating punishments" to keep influential activists in detention for as long as possible, raising concerns among international organizations about the fate of freedom of expression and human rights work in the country.
Authorities had temporarily released her briefly last December for surgery and tumor treatment, but she was quickly returned to prison, raising serious concerns about her physical safety and her ability to endure additional years in prison under harsh detention conditions.
