Jailed Iranian human rights campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi is reportedly in critical condition, prompting urgent calls from her family and the Nobel Committee for her immediate transfer to adequate medical facilities. Her brother fears she is dying, expressing deep concern after she was moved from Zanjan Prison to a local hospital following a severe health decline.
Health Crisis Amidst Imprisonment
Narges Mohammadi, 54, who was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran, has experienced a catastrophic deterioration of her health. Her brother, Hamidreza Mohammadi, speaking from Norway, revealed that she had been found unconscious by fellow inmates at Zanjan Prison last month, suffering from what was suspected to be a heart attack. Despite a history of cardiac, lung, and blood pressure issues, including a previous pulmonary embolism and undergoing stenting and angiography, prison officials allegedly refused to transfer her to a hospital.
The Narges Mohammadi Foundation, managed by her family, confirmed her hospital transfer on Friday, stating it occurred after 140 days of arbitrary detention and persistent denial of specialized healthcare. Hamidreza Mohammadi elaborated that his sister is suffering from low blood pressure and has experienced a heart attack. He emphasized that her existing complex medical conditions make effective treatment by local doctors in Zanjan nearly impossible.
Calls for Specialized Care and International Scrutiny
Hamidreza Mohammadi is urgently calling for his sister’s transfer to a hospital in Tehran. He believes only specialists who have previously treated her can provide the necessary care. This plea has been echoed by Jorgen Watne Frydnes, head of the Nobel Peace Prize committee, who warned Reuters that Mohammadi’s life is at risk.
Her brother directly criticized the Iranian government, alleging a deliberate attempt to deny Mohammadi essential medical help. “I have no doubt that the regime has decided to just get rid of people like Narges and other activists,” he stated, though Iranian authorities have not issued a public response to these accusations.
Broader Context and Political Tensions
Mohammadi’s plight highlights the ongoing challenges faced by political prisoners and human rights defenders in Iran. She has been arrested 13 times throughout her activism and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes, according to her foundation. In 2021, she began serving a 13-year sentence for charges she denies, including “propaganda activity against the state” and “collusion against state security.”
She was granted temporary medical release from Tehran’s Evin Prison in December 2024 but continued her activism. Her subsequent arrest in Mashhad last December, after a speech at a memorial, led to her being taken to a hospital after allegedly being beaten. In early February, a Revolutionary Court sentenced her to an additional seven-and-a-half years for “gathering and collusion” and “propaganda activities.” She was then transferred to Zanjan prison the following week, with limited communication access since.
Geopolitical Distractions and Shifting Priorities
Hamidreza Mohammadi also suggested that global attention has been diverted from the plight of Iranian prisoners due to ongoing international conflicts, particularly the war in the Middle East. He expressed frustration that the international community appears “reluctant to talk about the real problem,” suggesting that economic concerns, such as the security of the Strait of Hormuz trade route, have overshadowed the fight for human rights and freedom in Iran. “It seems that oil is now more important than freedom,” he remarked.
Implications and Future Watch
The deteriorating health of Narges Mohammadi raises critical questions about the treatment of political dissidents within Iran and the international community’s response. Her condition underscores the risks faced by activists who challenge the authorities, even those recognized with prestigious global awards. The situation will likely intensify pressure on the Iranian government from human rights organizations and international bodies. Observers will be watching closely to see if the international outcry prompts a genuine medical intervention and reconsideration of her detention, and whether global geopolitical events continue to overshadow the urgent human rights concerns within Iran.
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