As a result of her tenacious advocacy for women’s rights, democracy, and the abolition of the death sentence, imprisoned Iranian campaigner Narges Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
Despite being detained for years and being arrested repeatedly by Iranian authorities, Mohammadi, 51, has continued her activity.
The chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, presented the award in Oslo and stated, “This prize is first and foremost a recognition of the very important work of a whole movement in Iran with its undisputed leader, Nargis Mohammadi.”
She urged Iran to free Mohammadi in time for the award ceremony on December 10 and stated that the committee hopes the prize “is an encouragement to continue the work in whichever form this movement finds to be fitting.” Iran has been ruled by a Shiite theocracy overseen by the nation’s supreme leader for almost all of Mohammadi’s life.
Women can have their lives severely controlled even while they possess careers, academic positions, and even government assignments. All women are required by law to cover their hair with a headscarf, or hijab, as a display of piety. It is still only required in Iran and Afghanistan’s neighbors.
Mohammadi remarked in an interview with The New York Times that the “global support and recognition of my human rights advocacy makes me more resolved, more responsible, more passionate, and more hopeful.”
She continued, “I also hope that this recognition will strengthen and improve the organization of Iranians’ protests for reform.
“The end is in sight.” Reiss-Andersen claims that Mohammadi has been convicted five times and sentenced to prison 13 times.
She has received a total term of 31 years in jail. Following her arrest in 2021 for attending a memorial for a person slain in nationwide protests triggered by an increase in fuel prices, Mohammadi’s most recent sentence started.
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