SRINAGAR: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has made a momentous decision, selecting Narges Mohammadi as the recipient of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. This recognition is a tribute to her unwavering commitment to combating the oppression of women in Iran while championing the cause of human rights and freedom for all.
The committee stated, “This year’s peace prize also recognises the hundreds of thousands of people who have demonstrated against the theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women.”
Narges Mohammadi’s tireless struggle has come at a great personal cost. She has endured 13 arrests, five convictions, and a sentence of 31 years in prison, accompanied by a brutal punishment of 154 lashes. Unfortunately, Mohammadi remains incarcerated to this day.
A turning point arrived in September 2022 when a tragic incident unfolded. Mahsa Jina Amini, a young Kurdish woman, met her untimely demise while in the custody of the Iranian morality police. This event triggered the largest political demonstrations against Iran’s theocratic regime since its establishment in 1979.
Under the banner “Woman–Life–Freedom,” hundreds of thousands of Iranians participated in peaceful protests, opposing the regime’s relentless brutality and oppression of women. However, the regime responded with a severe crackdown, resulting in the loss of over 500 lives, thousands injured, and the arrest of at least 20,000 individuals.
The rallying cry of the demonstrators, “Woman – Life – Freedom,” profoundly encapsulates Narges Mohammadi’s unwavering commitment. As she stated in written responses to CNN, “This period was and still is the era of greatest protest in this prison.”
Mohammadi’s journey began in the 1990s as a young physics student, where she stood out as an advocate for equality and women’s rights. After completing her studies, she worked as both an engineer and a columnist for various reform-minded newspapers. In 2003, she became affiliated with the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran, an organisation founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.
In 2011, she faced her first arrest and was sentenced to years of imprisonment for her efforts to assist imprisoned activists and their families.
Following her release on bail in 2013, Mohammadi dedicated herself to campaigning against the death penalty, shedding light on Iran’s distressing record of executing a high number of its citizens each year.
Tragically, since January 2022, over 860 prisoners have faced execution in Iran. Her activism against the death penalty led to her re-arrest in 2015 and an extended sentence behind bars. In prison, she took up the cause against the regime’s systematic use of torture and sexual violence against political prisoners, particularly women.
In her letter and responses to CNN, Mohammadi detailed incidents of sexual violence against her and other female detainees, spanning back to 1999. She highlighted the psychological pressure imposed on women to strictly adhere to compulsory hijab, all in the name of upholding the image of religious Islamic men and ensuring the supposed security and purity of women. This abuse left deep and lasting scars on their souls and minds, making recovery challenging, if not impossible.
The previous year’s wave of protests reached the ears of political prisoners inside Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. Despite her captivity, Mohammadi assumed a leadership role, expressing solidarity with the demonstrators and organizing actions among her fellow inmates.
Prison authorities responded with even harsher measures, denying her calls and visitors. Nevertheless, she managed to smuggle out an article that the New York Times published on the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini’s tragic death, conveying the message that adversity only strengthens their resolve. Narges Mohammadi has played a pivotal role in ensuring the protests remain alive.
In awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi this year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee seeks to honor her courageous battle for human rights, freedom, and democracy in Iran.
This year’s Peace Prize also stands as a tribute to the hundreds of thousands who, in the preceding year, took a stand against the theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women. It is a reminder that embracing equal rights for all is the path to achieving the global fraternity between nations that Alfred Nobel envisioned. This award to Narges Mohammadi continues a time-honored tradition where the Norwegian Nobel Committee recognizes those striving for social justice, human rights, and democracy – essential foundations for lasting peace.
