Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi on Friday received the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran. Norwegian Nobel Committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen made the announcement in Stockholm.
“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all,” the Nobel Committee said, announcing this year’s winner.
“2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi’s brave struggle has come with tremendous personal costs,” the Nobel Committee said.
“The Iranian regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. Mohammadi is still in prison,” it further added.
Mohammadi campaigned for sensitive issues in the Islamic Republic. She opposed the clerical system and raised her voice against the obligatory hijab. She did not give up campaigning even when she was in prison.
She was born in 1972 in Zanjan, in the northwest of Iran. She studied physics in college and became an engineer but soon shifted to journalism. She was associated with newspapers that were at the time part of the reformist movement.
She joined the Center for Human Rights Defenders, founded by the Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2003 and fought for the abolition of the death penalty.
Her work came into the spotlight once more last year following the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s so-called morality police. “In September 2022, Mahsa Jina Amini was killed in Iranian morality police’s custody, triggering political demonstrations against Iran’s regime. The motto adopted by the demonstrators – “Woman – Life – Freedom” – suitably expresses the dedication and work of Narges Mohammadi,” the Nobel Committee highlighted.
The Nobel Committee also urged the Iranian government to listen to its own citizens warning that democracy is in decline.
