Narges Mohammadi Granted Medical Leave from Prison; UN Calls for Her Unconditional Release

On Wednesday, the United Nations called for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner. This request came after Iranian authorities temporarily released her for medical reasons. A spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, who was not named, told AFP: "The temporary release of Narges Mohammadi for medical reasons and to receive appropriate treatment is an important step." They added: "We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of Ms. Mohammadi and all Iranian women and men who have been detained or imprisoned for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and other human rights." The Norwegian Nobel Committee also urged Iran on Wednesday to permanently release Narges Mohammadi, who has been temporarily freed for three weeks due to medical issues. Narges Mohammadi, a political prisoner and the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was released from Evin Prison due to her deteriorating health and for treatment procedures. An informed source told Radio Farda that Ms. Mohammadi was released on Wednesday, December 5. Mustafa Nili, a lawyer and Mohammadi's attorney, confirmed this news, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that his client was released for three weeks due to her health condition following tumor surgery and bone grafting, with the approval of the Tehran prosecutor's office. Narges Mohammadi, 52, has been tried and imprisoned multiple times for her outspoken activism against the widespread use of the death penalty in Iran and mandatory hijab laws for women. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023, particularly for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran. Her children accepted the award on her behalf as she was in prison at the time of the award ceremony. Jürgen Watne Fredens, the head of the Nobel Committee, told AFP: "As we have previously requested, we demand that she be released not only for 21 days for medical treatment but permanently." He added: "Our hope is that the Iranian regime and the pressures from the international community, including the pressures from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, will one day lead to her freedom." Fredens also stated that "her condition is serious and she is likely suffering from cancer," emphasizing that "21 days may not be sufficient for treatment." He added that the committee hopes to "digitally meet with her" during her 21-day release and "one day in the future... personally speak and meet with Narges." In recent weeks, reports have emerged regarding multiple physical problems faced by this human rights activist in Evin Prison, including a suspected cancerous bone tumor. However, Mustafa Nili reported that the operated tumor was "benign" and that Ms. Mohammadi only needs to be examined every three months to monitor her condition. He had previously reported that his client underwent surgery in mid-November to remove a "bone tumor from the upper part of her leg and for bone grafting." Mr. Nili wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that Ms. Mohammadi was returned to prison, but due to the type of surgery and the location of the lesion, the doctor's opinion was that she needs "three months of care in optimal conditions." The "Free Narges Coalition" also welcomed the temporary release of Narges Mohammadi from Evin Prison on Wednesday and called for her medical leave to be extended to three months. The coalition also stated in a statement that "in addition, we continue to demand her full and unconditional release." The "Free Narges Coalition" has also urged the international community to increase pressure for her release and encouraged Iranian authorities to ensure her access to necessary medical treatments. This statement was published by the "Strategic Committee in the Narges Freedom Campaign," which includes: the Narges Foundation, the American PEN Association, Reporters Without Borders, and Front Line Defenders. In the past two months, international human rights organizations have severely criticized the lack of access this Nobel Peace Prize winner has to medical services, calling for her freedom and access to treatment. In this context, Vida Rabani and Matoureh Ghonei, two political prisoners in the women's section of Evin Prison, have been on hunger strike for over two weeks in protest against the lack of medical access for Narges Mohammadi and their fellow inmate, Varisheh Moradi. In a letter from Evin Prison, which a copy was obtained by Radio Farda, Ms. Rabani detailed Ms. Mohammadi's condition and wrote that prison officials do not pay attention to "Narges's heavy surgical wound," "bedsores," "the uncleanliness of the room and bathroom," "the lack of medical facilities," and other problems faced by Narges Mohammadi. On the other hand, on December 4, more than 950 writers, artists, activists, and human rights defenders, including Yannick Jadot, a senator from Paris, Jean-Luc Romero, deputy mayor of Paris, Marie Toussaint, a member of the European Parliament, Marine Tondelier, national secretary of the Green Party, Carol Masroubian, director of the French PEN Association, and Marie Artigalon, vice president of the International Federation for Human Rights, wrote a letter to the President of France urging him to take action for the immediate release and to save the life of Narges Mohammadi, who is imprisoned in Evin Prison in critical physical condition. Over 40 human rights organizations and PEN associations worldwide also jointly called for the intervention of the UN Human Rights Council for the immediate release of Narges Mohammadi, a political prisoner in Iran, for treatment of her serious health condition. These organizations reminded in their letter that Ms. Mohammadi "was returned to prison just two days after surgery, contrary to the recommendations of doctors and the requests of her lawyers for medical leave." Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to a total of 13 years and 9 months in prison. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic has also opened new cases against her during her imprisonment and issued new sentences.