Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi was taken to hospital after being beaten when she was arrested last week, her family says. The 53-year-old human rights activist told them in a phone call on Sunday that she was brought to an emergency department twice after being attacked by plain clothed agents with severe and repeated baton blows to the head and neck, according to the Narges Foundation.
There was no comment from Iranian authorities, but they have said she was detained for making provocative remarks at a memorial ceremony in the city of Mashhad on Friday. The Nobel Committee and award-winning film-maker Jafar Panahi are among those calling for her release. Ms. Mohammadi, the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran, was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her activism against female oppression in Iran and promoting human rights.
She has spent more than 10 years of her life in prison. Since 2021, she has been serving a 13-year sentence on charges of committing propaganda activity against the state and collusion against state security, which she denied. In December 2024, she was given a temporary release from Tehran's notorious Evin prison on medical grounds. Since then, she has continued to campaign for human rights while undergoing treatment.
On Friday, she gave a speech at a memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi, a human rights activist and lawyer who was found dead earlier this month in circumstances described as suspicious by human rights groups. According to eyewitnesses cited by Ms. Mohammadi's family, she was attacked by around 15 plainclothes agents at the memorial, who were seen pulling her hair and beating her with clubs and batons.
In the phone call to her family, Ms. Mohammadi described the intensity of the blows as so heavy and forceful that she was taken to the hospital emergency room twice. She expressed that she did not know which security authority was currently detaining her and received no explanation for her arrest. Her physical condition during the call was poor, and she appeared unwell.
The Narges Foundation reported that Ms. Mohammadi was accused of cooperating with the Israeli government and received a death threat stating, We will put your mother into mourning. Alongside her, two other activists detained at the memorial ceremony, Sepideh Gholian and Pouran Nazemi, were also beaten by the agents.
Mashhad prosecutor Hasan Hematifar claimed that Ms. Mohammadi was among 39 people arrested, stating that she had encouraged those present to chant norm-breaking slogans and disturb the peace. The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed deep concern over what it termed the brutal arrest of Ms. Mohammadi, urging Iranian authorities to ensure her safety and release her unconditionally.
Jafar Panahi, fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, and other activists issued a joint statement asserting that the events at Alikordi's memorial highlighted the alarming state of freedom and security in Iran, and the lack of accountability of the authorities.
There was no comment from Iranian authorities, but they have said she was detained for making provocative remarks at a memorial ceremony in the city of Mashhad on Friday. The Nobel Committee and award-winning film-maker Jafar Panahi are among those calling for her release. Ms. Mohammadi, the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran, was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her activism against female oppression in Iran and promoting human rights.
She has spent more than 10 years of her life in prison. Since 2021, she has been serving a 13-year sentence on charges of committing propaganda activity against the state and collusion against state security, which she denied. In December 2024, she was given a temporary release from Tehran's notorious Evin prison on medical grounds. Since then, she has continued to campaign for human rights while undergoing treatment.
On Friday, she gave a speech at a memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi, a human rights activist and lawyer who was found dead earlier this month in circumstances described as suspicious by human rights groups. According to eyewitnesses cited by Ms. Mohammadi's family, she was attacked by around 15 plainclothes agents at the memorial, who were seen pulling her hair and beating her with clubs and batons.
In the phone call to her family, Ms. Mohammadi described the intensity of the blows as so heavy and forceful that she was taken to the hospital emergency room twice. She expressed that she did not know which security authority was currently detaining her and received no explanation for her arrest. Her physical condition during the call was poor, and she appeared unwell.
The Narges Foundation reported that Ms. Mohammadi was accused of cooperating with the Israeli government and received a death threat stating, We will put your mother into mourning. Alongside her, two other activists detained at the memorial ceremony, Sepideh Gholian and Pouran Nazemi, were also beaten by the agents.
Mashhad prosecutor Hasan Hematifar claimed that Ms. Mohammadi was among 39 people arrested, stating that she had encouraged those present to chant norm-breaking slogans and disturb the peace. The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed deep concern over what it termed the brutal arrest of Ms. Mohammadi, urging Iranian authorities to ensure her safety and release her unconditionally.
Jafar Panahi, fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, and other activists issued a joint statement asserting that the events at Alikordi's memorial highlighted the alarming state of freedom and security in Iran, and the lack of accountability of the authorities.
