Iranian security forces have violently arrested Nobel Peace Prize winner and women's rights activist Narges Mohammadi, her foundation has said.
The Narges Foundation stated that Ms. Mohammadi, 53, was detained in the eastern city of Mashhad, alongside other activists.
The Nobel Committee expressed its deep concern over Mohammadi's brutal arrest and called for the authorities to clarify her whereabouts, ensure her safety, and release her unaided. As of now, Iran has not commented on the incident.
Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her dedicated activism against female oppression in Iran and her promotion of human rights.
In December 2024, she was temporarily released from jail on medical grounds after serving time in Tehran's notorious Evin prison since 2021. Reports suggest that her latest arrest took place as she was attending a memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer found dead under questionable circumstances.
Norway-based group Iran Human Rights has called for an independent inquiry into Alikordi’s death, expressing concerns over its suspicious nature. Other activists at the memorial reportedly shouted slogans such as death to the dictator and long live Iran.
Taghi Rahmani, Mohammadi's husband, stated that the manner of her arrest was violent and suggested it reflects a broader pattern of repression by the Iranian regime.
The climate of intimidation has reportedly intensified since the June ceasefire with Israel, with Mohammadi accusing the authorities of tightening their grip on dissent. She recently penned an article for Time magazine, detailing the pervasive control the Iranian state exerts over personal freedoms and public life.
Over the course of her activism, Mohammadi has been arrested 13 times and has faced multiple sentences totaling over 36 years in prison, alongside 154 lashes, as reported by her foundation.
