Iran: Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Receives One-Year Extension to Prison Sentence
Mohammadi is already serving an unjust 12-year sentence
Location: Iran, Tehran
Date: June 18, 2024
Women Press Freedom organization strongly supports Nobel Prize recipient Narges Mohammadi, who has been sentenced to an extra year in Tehran's notorious Evin prison. This ruling was verified by her legal team. A leading figure in journalism and human rights advocacy, Mohammadi received an extended prison term for raising her voice against the tragic death of Dina Ghalibaf, a young girl who passed away while in the custody of Iran's morality police. Just a month earlier, Mohammadi was unjustly accused of further charges for her brave advocacy against the sexual abuse of women prisoners by Iranian security forces. Mohammadi is unjustly accused of "spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic" while already serving an unfair 12-year sentence. We strongly denounce the ongoing persecution of Narges Mohammadi and the unjust charges brought against her. This relentless targeting highlights the oppressive nature of the Islamic Republic. It is imperative for the international community to advocate for Mohammadi's release promptly.
Narges Mohammadi, the distinguished recipient of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, was handed an extended prison term on June 18, 2024. This additional year in Tehran's infamous Evin prison was confirmed by her legal representatives. The decision seems to have been influenced by Mohammadi's outspoken comments regarding the case of Dina Ghalibaf, an Iranian student who was arrested in April after alleging sexual assault by members of Iran's morality police. Tragically, Ghalibaf passed away while in the custody of the morality police.
Moreover, Mohammadi's advocacy work, which includes urging Iranian citizens to boycott parliamentary elections and engaging with the Swedish and Norwegian parliaments, was cited as further grounds for her prolonged detention.
On May 18, 2024, Mohammadi confronted a new legal battle following her allegations of sexual assault by Iranian security forces against women. The trial revolved around an audio recording in which she condemned the Iranian regime's perceived campaign against women.
Having endured more than eight years of her 12-year sentence behind bars due to past convictions, Mohammadi is being defended by her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, who disclosed that the court is slated to convene to address the latest accusations of "spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic.”
Mohammadi was sentenced to an additional 15 months in prison on January 15, 2024. Following her release, she will also face two years of exile, a two-year travel ban, a two-year ban on joining social-political groups, and a two-year ban on using a smartphone. These charges were brought against her for advocating human and women's rights from inside prison, including her support for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement.
Mohammadi refused to attend the trial, which took place on December 19, 2023, at Branch 26 of Iran's Revolutionary Court in Tehran, citing the political nature of the charges and the denial of due process. She has spent most of the past 12 years in prison on fabricated political charges and has faced multiple convictions, resulting in imprisonment, lashes, travel bans, exile, and various social and political restrictions.
On November 23, 2023, Mohammadi began a hunger strike after being refused medical treatment for a second time on the grounds that she was not following mandatory state laws regarding wearing the hijab.
Mohammadi, renowned for her fearless advocacy, faces a critical health condition, with blocked heart veins necessitating angioplasty. However, her steadfast refusal to wear the hijab, a mandatory Islamic headscarf, has led to the authorities' decision to withhold essential medical care. This denial marks the second time her health needs have been disregarded on similar grounds.
The prison warden, as per statements from Mohammadi's family, cited the ban on transporting her without a headscarf as the primary reason for this refusal. This stance underscores the stringent enforcement of dress codes for women in Iran, often leading to severe repercussions for non-compliance.
Mohammadi's hunger strike serves as a profound protest against not only the denial of medical care to her and other inmates but also against the broader issue of compulsory hijab laws in Iran. The move gains additional significance considering it follows merely a month after her Nobel Peace Prize recognition, an award that spotlighted her long-standing battle against governmental oppression.
On October 10, Evin Prison authorities denied Narges Mohammadi, a prominent journalist, access to her lawyer solely based on her refusal to wear a hijab. Mohammadi, sentenced to more than 30 years and banned from seeing her family, is serving a lengthy prison sentence for "spreading anti-state propaganda."
The journalist, who has faced multiple arrests throughout her career, has been deprived of her right to participate in hearings, obtain legal representation, and present her defense in writing. Additionally, she has reportedly faced mistreatment and abuse from prison officials.
Despite calls from the UN and the international community, Iranian authorities persist in criminalizing Mohammadi for her work defending human rights. Her detention and sentencing have been deemed arbitrary and a violation of international law.
On October 6, the jailed journalist was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her remarkable efforts in fighting against the oppression of women in Iran and advocating for human rights and freedom for all.
In an audio recording prior to receiving the prestigious award, Mohammadi expressed her commitment to activism while being confined within the notorious Evin prison in Iran. Her recognition by the Nobel Peace Prize underscores the importance of her work and serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights and gender equality in Iran and beyond.
Women Press Freedom stands firmly behind Narges Mohammadi. We strongly denounce the ongoing persecution of the journalist, which epitomizes the harassment faced by women journalists in Iran, a blatant violation of their rights aiming to stifle their voices. It is imperative for the international community to maintain pressure on Iranian authorities to uphold press freedom and human rights. The unjust imprisonment of Mohammadi must not be overlooked or accepted without challenge. We demand her immediate release and unconditional exoneration.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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