Narges Mohammadi: A Beacon of Hope in the Battle for Women's Rights in Iran

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced in Oslo on Friday that Narges Mohammadi, a jailed Iranian activist, has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. She is recognized for her efforts in combating the oppression of women in Iran and advocating for human rights and freedom overall. Despite being sentenced to more than 30 years in prison and being prohibited from seeing her husband and children, Mohammadi has become a symbol of the fight for human rights in Iran. Her name gained prominence during nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by the notorious morality police.

Mohammadi was awarded the prize by the Nobel Committee for her courageous fight against the discriminatory and oppressive policies of the theocratic regime. The committee acknowledged the hundreds of thousands of people who protested in the previous year. Furthermore, Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, emphasized the personal sacrifices Mohammadi had made. She had been arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes.

"Ms. Mohammadi is still in prison as I speak," Reiss-Andersen added.

A handout photo provided by the Narges Mohammadi Foundation on October 2 shows a photo of Narges Mohammadi.

Narges Mohammadi Foundation/AFP/Getty Images

Narges Mohammadi, an incarcerated Iranian activist, voices her opposition to acts of sexual violence committed against women. The family of Mohammadi conveyed their appreciation to the committee for their unwavering focus on "the marginalized individuals of Iran," in a statement issued to CNN.

The family expressed that while the years of her absence cannot be made up to them, acknowledging Narges' efforts for peace brings them consolation amidst their unimaginable pain. They mentioned that she has been separated from her children for over eight and a half years, and has not heard their voices in more than a year. These circumstances serve as a testament to the hardships she has faced in pursuit of her dreams. Thus, for the family, who firmly believes that the Nobel Peace Prize will assist her in accomplishing her objectives, this day holds great significance.

Incarcerated, but not silenced

Not even the dark cells of Tehrans notorious Evin Prison have crushed Mohammadis powerful voice.

In a jail audio recording shared with CNN prior to Friday's announcement, Mohammadi can be heard leading the chants of "woman, life, freedom," which served as the rallying cry for the uprising sparked by Amini's death last year. Amini was apprehended for allegedly not wearing her headscarf appropriately.

During the recording, there is a brief interruption featuring an automated message - "This is a phone call from Evin Prison." A Farsi version of "Bella Ciao," an Italian folk song from the 19th century that became an anthem of resistance against fascism and has been embraced by Iran's freedom movement, can be heard sung by the women.

"This period was and still is the era of greatest protest in this prison," Mohammadi told CNN in written responses to questions submitted through intermediaries.

Narges Mohammadi during her medical furlough from prison in 2021 in Tehran.

Reihane Taravati

Mohammadi was among 351 candidates vying for this year's award, marking the second-highest number of candidates in the history of the Nobels. In doing so, she became the 19th woman to receive this prestigious accolade in over a century of its existence. Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer who herself was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, praised the committee's choice to recognize Mohammadi.

"We are currently residing in a highly interconnected global community. Presently, individuals in Iran are vigorously battling for their liberty. The prosperity of their efforts holds significant importance for our future," Matviichuk conveyed through the social media platform X, previously recognized as Twitter.

During the news conference on Friday announcing the honor, Reiss-Andersen asserted, "By fully embracing equal rights for all, the world can realize the sense of brotherhood among nations that Alfred Nobel aspired to foster."

"The recognition of Narges Mohammadi with this award aligns with the established practice of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, whereby the Peace Prize is bestowed upon individuals dedicated to promoting social justice, human rights, and democracy. These fundamental conditions are essential for attaining enduring peace," she stated.

Woman, life, freedom

Henrik Urdal, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, hailed Mohammadis victory as a groundbreaking milestone for women's rights in Iran. "For generations, women in the country have courageously advocated for equality and freedom. The tragic death of Mahsa Amini served as a catalyst in their fight against oppression and violence," Urdal stated to CNN.

The laureate, who is currently imprisoned in Tehran under unjust circumstances, delivers a compelling message to the Iranian leaders regarding the universal significance of women's rights," he stated.

Mohammadi's acknowledgement follows a turbulent year in Iran, initiated by the tragic death of Amini, leading to widespread and enduring nationwide protests. Reiss-Andersen characterized this unrest as "the most significant political demonstrations against Iran's theocratic regime since its establishment in 1979."

A brutal government crackdown awaited them as they arrived. According to Reiss-Andersen, over 500 protesters lost their lives, with thousands sustaining injuries, including those who were left blinded by rubber bullets fired by the police. Moreover, at least 20,000 individuals were arrested and detained. The one-year anniversary of Amini's death was observed last month, with CNN's obtained footage showcasing ongoing demonstrations across various Iranian cities, such as Tehran, Mashad, Ahvaz, Lahijan, Arak, and the Kurdish city of Senandaj.

Many of the protesters shouted "Woman, Life, Freedom," and others chanted slogans against Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran was rocked by nationwide protests that started in September 2022.

AFP/Getty Images

The long road to the Nobel

Mohammadi, who pursued a degree in physics at Imam Khomeini International University during the 1990s, commenced his career as an engineer while simultaneously contributing columns to reformist Iranian newspapers, as stated by Berit Reiss-Andersen during the news conference on Friday.

In 2003, she became a member of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran, an organization established by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.

Mohammadi's initial arrest occurred in 2011 due to her affiliation with the Defenders of Human Rights Center, leading to her conviction. Following her release on bail after two years, Mohammadi embarked on a crusade against the implementation of the death penalty.

The committee recognized that Iran has consistently ranked among the nations with the highest annual execution rates for its citizens. Over the past year, a total of 860 prisoners have been subjected to capital punishment in the country.

Despite being arrested and re-sentenced in 2015 for her activism against the death penalty, Mohammadi persisted in her efforts to combat human rights violations targeting political prisoners from inside Evin prison.

CNN reported last year on the utilization of rape by Iran's security forces to suppress the protests that erupted following the demise of Amini. Despite the limited media access in Iran, CNN conducted interviews with eyewitnesses who had fled the country, while also verifying the accounts from survivors and sources both within and outside Iran, in order to confirm multiple reports of sexual violence targeting protesters.

A Kurdish-Iranian woman, known as Hana for her safety, has reported experiencing and witnessing incidents of sexual violence during her detention. She revealed that some girls were sexually assaulted and subsequently moved to different cities.

CNN's inquiry regarding the mentioned abuses was unanswered by Iranian authorities.

"Read the complete article on the methods employed by Iran's security forces to suppress protests through sexual assault."

"Following the anniversary of Amini's demise, Iran has intensified its repression of women's rights. In September, their parliament passed a severe legislation imposing stricter penalties on women violating hijab laws. Referred to as the "hijab bill," this law will be in effect for a trial period of three years and entails various regulations regarding clothing. Violations of these regulations can result in imprisonment for up to 10 years."

The experts issued a statement expressing their concern that the recent law could be seen as a form of "gender apartheid," as the authorities seem to be deliberately enforcing discriminatory practices to oppress and subjugate women and girls.