Jailed Iranian women’s rights activist Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The news sent a strong message of opposition to theocratic authorities in the nation and gave demonstrators who opposed the regime a huge backing.

The award’s committee said it was a tribute to everyone who participated in the recent, historic protests in Iran and called for Mohammadi’s immediate release. Mohammadi is a 51-year-old activist who has tirelessly fought for women’s rights and the repeal of the death penalty.

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Who is Narges Mohammadi?

Narges Mohammadi is a prominent Iranian advocate for human rights, a distinguished scientist, and holds the position of Vice President at the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC). Her active efforts have been directed at defending prisoners’ rights and abolishing the death sentence in Iran. Unfortunately, she has been imprisoned several times due to her persistent devotion to human rights.

In 1998, Mohammadi had her first run-in with the law when she was arrested for publicly criticizing the Iranian government and sentenced to a year in jail. She was called before the Islamic Revolutionary Court in April 2010 as a result of her connection to the DHRC.

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She was briefly released on a $50,000 bond, but she was quickly detained once more and imprisoned at Evin. Sadly, Mohammadi’s health declined while she was being held, eventually leading to the beginning of a disorder like epilepsy that caused her to occasionally lose control of her muscles.

She was given a heavy 16-year prison term in May 2016 for her crucial part in founding and organizing a “human rights movement advocating for the abolition of the death penalty.” A two-year term was also given to her for “propaganda against the state” allegations.

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Mohammadi has had multiple temporary medical releases from prison, but each release has been followed by a brief return to imprisonment. She won a slot on the BBC 100 Women list in 2022.