Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been handed an additional 15 months in prison by Iran’s Revolutionary Court, marking her fifth conviction since March 2021.
Mohammadi, a long-time human rights activist, has spent a total of 12 years in jail over multiple sentences, facing accusations of spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic.
In her absence during the latest trial, the verdict decreed not only an extended prison term but also a two-year exile outside Tehran, necessitating her transfer from Evin prison.
Post-release, she faces a two-year travel ban, along with restrictions on political and social group membership and mobile phone use.
Despite enduring 13 arrests and a cumulative 31-year sentence, Mohammadi, aged 51, has persistently campaigned for human rights in Iran.
Her recent recognition with the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, which her children accepted on her behalf, highlighted her tireless efforts against the oppression of women in Iran.
In a statement smuggled from prison, she denounced Iran’s “tyrannical” government, expressing confidence in the Iranian people’s ability to overcome repression and authoritarianism.
“I write this message from behind the high, cold walls of a prison. The Iranian people, with perseverance, will overcome repression and authoritarianism,” she said.
Her message also acknowledged the transformative impact of young Iranians who turned public spaces into hubs of civil resistance, referencing protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after allegedly violating hijab norms.
Source-BBC
