Nobel Peace Prize winner and prominent Iranian women’s rights activist Narges Mohammadi has been “violently arrested” by security forces, her foundation reported on Saturday.
The 53-year-old was detained in the eastern city of Mashhad while attending a memorial ceremony for a recently deceased lawyer, along with several other activists.
The Narges Foundation stated that Mohammadi, who was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize for her campaign against the oppression of women in Iran, was taken into custody during the gathering for Khosrow Alikordi—a lawyer whose death last week has been called “suspicious” by the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights. Witnesses said attendees chanted slogans including “death to the dictator” before the arrests.
Mohammadi had been temporarily released from Tehran’s Evin Prison in December 2024 on medical grounds after being imprisoned since 2021. She was expected to return to custody soon to continue serving multiple sentences related to her activism.
Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, told BBC Persian that the arrest was carried out “violently” and described it as “a kind of revenge,” noting a recent intensification of the establishment’s crackdown.
The Nobel Committee expressed “deep concern” over her “brutal arrest” and called on Iranian authorities to immediately clarify her whereabouts, ensure her safety, and release her unconditionally. Iranian officials have not yet commented on the detention.
By James Kisoo
