Nobel Peace Prize Winner Transferred to Prison Without Warning
Iranian authorities have secretly transferred Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi to a prison in northern Iran, her family announced on Saturday. The move was executed without prior notification to her family or legal representatives, escalating fears about her deteriorating health and ongoing mistreatment.
Concerns Mount Over Health and Safety
Mohammadi's husband, Taghi Rahmani, who resides in Paris, revealed that she was moved to a facility in Zanjan, a city in northern Iran. He described the transfer as an intentional act of "exile and displacement" designed to isolate the activist further. This development follows alarming reports from the Norwegian Nobel committee, which expressed deep concern over "physical abuse and ongoing life-threatening mistreatment" during her arrest and detention.
According to her Iranian lawyer, Mostafa Nili, Mohammadi managed to disclose the transfer during a brief phone call on Saturday. She detailed severe violence inflicted upon her during the arrest, including blows to the head that have resulted in dizziness, double vision, and blurred vision. Visible bruises and marks from the assault remain on her body, highlighting the brutal conditions she endures.
Background of Activism and Recent Arrest
Narges Mohammadi, 53, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her more than two decades of courageous campaigning against Iran's use of capital punishment and the mandatory dress code for women. Her arrest occurred on December 12 in Mashhad, where she spoke out against Iran's clerical authorities at a funeral ceremony.
Since her detention, Mohammadi has faced escalating legal challenges. Earlier this month, she was sentenced to an additional six years in prison on charges of harming national security, along with a one-and-a-half-year term for propaganda against Iran's Islamic system. In protest of her detention conditions, she undertook a hunger strike for nearly a week, further compromising her health.
Pattern of Persecution and Isolation
Over the past twenty-five years, Mohammadi has been repeatedly tried and imprisoned for her human rights advocacy. Born in Zanjan but a resident of Tehran, she has a history of being transferred to Zanjan prison during previous incarcerations, where she reportedly suffered ill treatment. Her foundation, operated by supporters and family, noted that this transfer marks a continuation of such punitive measures.
Communication with Mohammadi has been severely restricted since her arrest in December. She has been allowed only one phone call with a brother inside Iran and two calls with her lawyer, underscoring the authorities' efforts to silence her. The transfer comes amid a broader crackdown by Iranian authorities, which activists claim has resulted in thousands of deaths following nationwide protests that erupted later in December and peaked in January.
The international community continues to monitor Mohammadi's situation closely, with calls for her immediate release and protection of her fundamental rights growing louder. Her unwavering commitment to justice and freedom remains a beacon of hope for many, even as she faces unprecedented challenges behind bars.
