OSLO: In a significant announcement on Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee honored Iranian women’s rights advocate Narges Mohammadi with the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for her relentless struggle against the oppression of women in Iran. The committee recognized her unwavering commitment to promoting human rights and freedom for all amidst immense personal sacrifices.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, praised Mohammadi’s courage, stating, “Her brave struggle has come with tremendous personal costs.”
Narges Mohammadi, 51, has been a prominent figure in the Iranian human rights movement, campaigning fervently against the mandatory hijab for women and advocating against the death penalty. She serves as the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre, an organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi in 2003.
The committee expressed hope that Iranian authorities would release Mohammadi, allowing her to attend the prize ceremony scheduled for December 10 in Oslo. Reiss-Andersen emphasized, “If the Iranian authorities make the right decision, they will release her so she can be present to receive this honor, which is what we primarily hope for.”
Narges Mohammadi’s Struggle for Human Rights
Despite spending much of the past two decades in and out of prison, Mohammadi remains undeterred. Her activism intensified recently following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who was arrested for violating Iran’s strict dress regulations. Even from her confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison, Mohammadi witnessed the protest movement that erupted after Amini’s tragic demise.
Mohammadi’s husband, Taghi Rahmani, a refugee in France since 2012, commended his wife’s determination. “She has three aims in her life —her feminist commitment, respect for human rights, and justice for all the crimes that have been committed,” Rahmani remarked.
The Nobel Peace Prize, accompanied by a gold medal, diploma, and a prize sum of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million), will be officially presented at the ceremony in December.
