Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Narges Mohammadi is an Inspiration for the Fight for Human Rights

Following the announcement of the extension of the ban on contact and visits for Narges Mohammadi in Evin Prison, the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote on "X" on Friday: "Narges Mohammadi has been an inspiration for men and women in Iran and around the world in the fight for human rights for decades." Senator Ben Cardin added: "Narges Mohammadi, a human rights defender, has fought on behalf of all Iranians and their rights for over 30 years and has been imprisoned 13 times for speaking out against the Tehran regime, yet she continues to fight for human rights from her cell in Evin Prison." He referred to the recent wave of protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini at the Guidance Patrol and the killing of 570 Iranians, with thousands more arrested and injured, stating: "Narges's prison sentence has been extended for another 15 months due to her criticism of such atrocities, but she continues to inspire and unite Iranians and all human rights defenders from behind the cold, hard walls of Evin Prison." The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee also noted the Iranian government's ban on Narges Mohammadi from receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and her years-long deprivation of visits with her husband and children, emphasizing: "Narges may remain behind bars for speaking of freedom and truth, but her courage and brave struggle for freedom are still felt and replicated around the world." Narges Mohammadi's family announced on Friday, February 9, that her restrictions and deprivation of phone contact and in-person visits, which were supposed to be lifted on February 4, would continue indefinitely by order of the head of the women's ward of Evin Prison. Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate for her fight for women's rights and freedom of expression in Iran, was selected by the Financial Times as one of the 25 most influential women in 2023. Born in 1972 in Zanjan, Narges has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times over the past two decades. In her latest legal case, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of "propaganda against the regime" and is currently in Evin Prison in Tehran. A gathering of Iranian and French human rights associations and unions was held with the presence of Narges Mohammadi's family. The ban on Narges Mohammadi's phone calls and visits has been extended "by order of security agencies." The monthly report of "Hengaw" on the violation of women's rights in Iran: executions, arrests, imprisonment, and flogging. Global reaction to the visit of an American adult film actress to Iran; "propaganda" for the Islamic Republic. Narges Mohammadi called for the "criminalization of gender apartheid" by the United Nations. Action against executions; female political prisoners in Evin joined a hunger strike of 10 prisoners in Qezel Hesar. Shirin Ebadi's request to Neda Al-Nashif: The Islamic Republic is exploiting you, cancel your trip to Iran.