Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner, was hospitalized after suffering injuries during her recent arrest, according to family reports. The 53-year-old human rights advocate revealed in a phone call that she had to be treated twice in an emergency department after being attacked with batons by plainclothes agents.
Authorities in Iran have not commented on the violent nature of her arrest, stating that Mohammadi was detained for making provocative remarks at a memorial in Mashhad. However, her supporters, including the Nobel Committee and filmmaker Jafar Panahi, have vocalized their concerns regarding her safety and called for her release.
Mohammadi, who serves as the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran, was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy against female oppression and human rights violations. She has faced imprisonment for over a decade, currently serving a 13-year sentence on charges she has denied. After being granted temporary medical release from Tehran's Evin prison in December 2024, she continued her activism while receiving treatment.
The incident that led to her arrest occurred during a memorial for human rights activist Khosrow Alikordi, where Mohammadi reportedly encouraged attendees to express their dissent. Eyewitness accounts detail how she was assaulted by around fifteen agents, who reportedly pulled her hair and struck her repeatedly.
In a later phone call with her family, Mohammadi described her physical state as poor, stating that the intensity of the assault was severe, leading to her hospitalization. The agents also accused her of collaborating with foreign governments and allegedly threatened her family.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed deep concern about Mohammadi's brutal arrest, urging Iranian authorities to ensure her safety and to release her immediately. Other activists and filmmakers have joined in demanding accountability and recognition of the deteriorating conditions for freedom and security within Iran.
