Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner from Iran, was taken to the hospital after being violently arrested last week, her family reports.
The 53-year-old human rights activist revealed in a phone call that she was taken to emergency rooms twice due to severe injuries inflicted by security agents. According to the Narges Foundation, she was attacked with repeated baton blows to her head and neck.
The Iranian authorities have not commented on her condition but stated she was detained for supposedly making provocative remarks during a memorial ceremony in Mashhad.
The Nobel Committee and distinguished figures, including filmmaker Jafar Panahi, are among those advocating for her release.
Mohammadi is notably the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran, and she was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her commitment to fighting against female oppression and promoting human rights.
Despite attending a memorial for fellow activist Khosrow Alikordi, who died under suspicious circumstances, she was allegedly assaulted by approximately 15 plainclothes agents.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that she faced severe violence at the hands of the agents, leading to her hospitalization. Until her recent detention, she had been on temporary release from Tehran’s Evin prison due to health concerns.
During her recent communication with her family, Mohammadi indicated that her health was in a poor state and expressed uncertainty about the authorities detaining her.
Despite this, she continues her advocacy, asserting that security officials have made threats against her life and family.
The situation has prompted rapid international response, with the Norwegian Nobel Committee calling for her protective custody and unconditional release from detention.
As global support grows, the plight of Mohammadi serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing struggles for human rights in Iran.
