Iran imposes an additional seven-and-a-half-year sentence on Nobel laureate Narges

Iranian human rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to nearly seven and a half years in prison, her lawyer and supporting organisations have confirmed. The ruling adds another chapter to the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders in Iran.

According to Mohammadi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, she was handed a six-year prison term on charges of “assembly and collusion with intent to commit crimes.” An additional one-and-a-half-year sentence was imposed for “propaganda activities against the state.” Furthermore, she has been ordered into two years of exile in the city of Khusf in Iran’s South Khorasan province and has been barred from leaving the country for two years.

Lawyer Nili emphasised that the verdict is not final and can be appealed. He expressed hope that, due to her serious health conditions, Mohammadi might be temporarily released on bail to receive medical treatment.

While in prison, Mohammadi staged a hunger strike on 2 February, protesting her detention conditions and the authorities’ refusal to allow her telephone contact with her lawyer and family. In a statement from the Narges Foundation, it was reported:

“On the sixth day, Narges Mohammadi ended her hunger strike. However, her physical condition remains deeply concerning.”

Mohammadi is the second Iranian woman to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, following Shirin Ebadi, who was awarded in 2003 for her contributions to democracy and human rights.

A prominent writer and journalist, Mohammadi currently serves as Deputy Director of Iran’s Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC). The organisation has long advocated for political prisoners and human rights reforms, with Mohammadi actively campaigning against capital punishment, corruption, and violations of women’s rights.

The Nobel Committee in 2023 recognised Mohammadi as a symbol of freedom, noting her two decades of struggle for women’s rights in Iran.

Her arrest followed her public condemnation of the mysterious death of lawyer Khosro Alikhord, who died on 12 December. Prosecutors allege that at a memorial gathering in Mashhad, Mohammadi delivered inciting remarks and encouraged attendees to chant “provocative slogans” and disrupt public order.

Sentence Breakdown:

Human rights organisations have strongly condemned the verdict, highlighting the ongoing persecution of activists in Iran. Mohammadi’s sentence has reignited international calls for her release and urgent medical attention.