This year’s Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Narges Mohammadi, a women’s and human rights activist who is imprisoned in Iran. 

Mohammadi has been arrested by Iran’s government 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to 31 years’ imprisonment and 154 lashes. 

The Nobel Committee said that Mohammadi’s life embodies the “Woman – Life – Freedom” motto of the protests in Iran that erupted last year after a young woman, Mahsa Amini, died in custody after being arrested by the morality police for wearing her headscarf incorrectly. 

Hours after the announcement of Mohammadi as the winner of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, Ms. Mohammadi’s Instagram account released a statement from her family in which she congratulated all Iranians, especially the brave women and girls of Iran.

“We would also like to extend our sincere congratulations to all Iranians, especially the brave women and girls of Iran, who have captured the world’s attention with their courage in their struggle for freedom and equality. This remarkable honor is a lasting witness to the tireless civil and peaceful efforts of Narges Mohammadi to bring change and freedom to Iran.

Ms. Mohammadi’s family expressed regret that she is in prison at these moments, emphasizing in their statement: “Unfortunately, Narges is not on our side to share this wonderful moment. Because he has been unjustly imprisoned, we cannot see his happy reaction to this remarkable and glorious news.

“This remarkable honor belongs to each and every one of you the courageous and resistant people of Iran who have fought tirelessly and peacefully for freedom.”

Mohammadi began her activism in the 1990s as young physics student and was first arrested in 2011 for her work with incarcerated activists and their families. 

Her subsequent activism, bringing attention to Iran’s death penalty, torture and sexualized violence against political prisoners, especially women, resulted in more arrests.

Last year, as a leader among prisoners, she voiced support for the demonstrators who took to the streets of Iran following Amini’s death.  Prison officials stopped her from receiving calls and visitors, but she was somehow able to smuggle out an article for The New York Times that was published on the anniversary of Amini’s killing.  

She wrote in the article, “The more of us they lock up, the stronger we become.” 

Alfred Nobel, a 19th-century Swedish chemist best known for inventing dynamite, provided money for the Nobel prizes in his will. He said there should be five prizes – physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. These prizes were to be given to “those who during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.” 

VOA’s Persian Service contributed to this report.
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