Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian activist serving a 10-year sentence in an Iranian prison, received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday (6) “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and for promoting human rights and freedom for all.”
The announcement made by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo comes after a wave of protests led by women in Iran that began following the death, in police custody, of a 22-year-old woman in September of last year. Hundreds of people were killed in the subsequent government crackdown, including at least 44 minors, while around 20,000 Iranians were arrested, according to United Nations estimates.
“This year’s peace prize recognizes the hundreds of thousands of people who, in the previous year, protested against the discriminatory and oppressive policies of the theocratic regime in Iran against women,” the committee stated. “The slogan adopted by the protesters – ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ – aptly expresses the dedication and work of Narges Mohammadi.”
Mohammadi vowed to remain in Iran and continue her activism, even if it means spending the rest of her life in prison. “Alongside the brave mothers of Iran,” she said, “I will continue to fight against relentless discrimination, tyranny, and gender-based oppression by the oppressive religious government until the liberation of women.”
There were 351 candidates for this year’s prize, according to the Nobel committee, the second highest number ever. Mohammadi joins 137 laureates nominated since the prize’s inception in 1901, a list that includes President Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Teresa.
The winner’s family, who live thousands of kilometers away from her in Paris, expressed joy at the honor but acknowledged that everything comes at a cost, and the family fears for her safety every day.
In the last 30 years, the Iranian government has repeatedly penalized Mohammadi for her activism, depriving her of everything: her career as an engineer, her health, the time she spends with her parents, husband, and children, in short, her freedom.
Source: The New York Times