Iran arrests Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi

[ad_1] DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has arrested Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi , her supporters mentioned Friday.

A basis in her identify mentioned she was detained in Mashhad, some 680 kilometers (420 miles) northeast of the capital, Tehran, whereas attending a memorial for a human rights lawyer just lately discovered lifeless underneath unclear circumstances.

A neighborhood official reportedly acknowledged arrests had been made, however didn't instantly identify Mohammadi, 53. It wasn’t clear if authorities would instantly return her to jail, the place she had been serving a sentence till her non permanent launch in December 2024 for medical functions.

Nonetheless, her detention comes as Iran has been cracking down on intellectuals and others as Tehran struggles with sanctions, an ailing financial system and the worry of a renewed warfare with Israel. Arresting Mohammadi could spark elevated strain from the West at a time when Iran repeatedly alerts it desires new negotiations with america over its nuclear program — one thing that has but to occur.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee mentioned it was “deeply involved” by Mohammadi’s arrest.

The committee “calls on the Iranian authorities to right away make clear Mohammadi’s whereabouts, guarantee her security and integrity, and to launch her with out situations,” it mentioned in a press release.

Activist detained at ceremony for lifeless lawyer Her supporters on Friday described her as having been “violently detained earlier in the present day by safety and police forces.” They mentioned different activists had been arrested as properly at a ceremony honoring Khosrow Alikordi, a 46-year-old Iranian lawyer and human rights advocate who had been based mostly in Mashhad.

“The Narges Basis requires the instant and unconditional launch of all detained people who have been attending a memorial ceremony to pay their respects and show solidarity,” a press release learn. “Their arrest constitutes a critical violation of basic freedoms.”

Alikordi was discovered lifeless earlier this month in his workplace, with provincial officers in describing his loss of life as a coronary heart assault. Nonetheless, a tightening safety crackdown coincided together with his loss of life, elevating questions. Over 80 legal professionals signed a press release demanding extra info.

“What we witnessed in the present day is the Islamic Republic’s newest assault on probably the most primary human freedoms — the place even mourning a slain lawyer turns into a punishable act,” mentioned Hadi Ghaemi, the chief director of the New York-based Heart for Human Rights in Iran.

“When peaceable residents can't mourn with out being crushed and dragged away, it reveals a authorities afraid of fact and accountability. It additionally reveals the extraordinary bravery of Iranians who refuse to give up their dignity.”

Footage purportedly of the ceremony confirmed Mohammadi with a microphone, calling out to the gang gathered with out sporting a hijab, or headband. She began the gang chanting the identify Majidreza Rahnavard, a man whom authorities hanged from a crane in a public execution in 2022 .

Footage revealed by her basis additionally confirmed her with out a hijab, surrounded by a big crowd.

Hasan Hosseini, town governor of Mashhad, mentioned prosecutors ordered safety officers to quickly detain numerous individuals on the ceremony after the chanting of “norm-breaking” slogans, Iranian state tv reported.

Hosseini described the detentions as preventive to guard these there from others within the crowd, however didn't tackle claims that safety forces used violence in making the arrests.

Different anti-government chants may very well be heard in purported video footage of the occasion.

Mohammadi had been on furlough for months Supporters had warned for months that Mohammadi was susceptible to being put again into jail after she received a furlough in December 2024 over medical concerns .

Whereas that was to be solely three weeks, Mohammadi’s trip of jail lengthened, presumably as activists and Western powers pushed Iran to maintain her free. She remained out even in the course of the 12-day warfare in June between Iran and Israel.

Mohammadi nonetheless stored up her activism with public protests and worldwide media appearances, together with even demonstrating at one level in entrance of Tehran’s infamous Evin jail, the place she had been held.

Mohammadi had been serving 13 years and 9 months on costs of collusion towards state safety and propaganda towards Iran’s authorities. She additionally had backed the nationwide protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini , which have seen ladies overtly defy the federal government by not sporting the hijab.

Mohammadi suffered a number of coronary heart assaults whereas imprisoned earlier than present process emergency surgical procedure in 2022, her supporters say. Her lawyer in late 2024 revealed medical doctors had discovered a bone lesion that they feared may very well be cancerous that later was eliminated.

“Mohammadi’s medical doctors just lately prescribed an extension of her medical go away for a minimum of six extra months to conduct thorough and common medical examinations, together with monitoring the bone lesion which was faraway from her leg in November, physiotherapy classes to get better from the surgical procedure and specialised cardiac care,” the Free Narges Coalition mentioned in late February 2025.

“The medical staff overseeing Mohammadi’s well being has warned that her return to jail — particularly underneath demanding situations of detention and with out enough medical amenities — may severely worsen her bodily well-being.”

An engineer by coaching, Mohammadi has been imprisoned 13 occasions and convicted 5. In complete, she has been sentenced to over 30 years in jail. Her final incarceration started when she was detained in 2021 after attending a memorial for an individual killed in nationwide protests .

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