Narges Mohammadi Summoned to Evin Prosecutor's Office; Denied Exit for Not Wearing a Hijab

Narges Mohammadi, a imprisoned human rights activist and winner of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, was summoned to the Evin Prosecutor's Office for 'clarification of new charges' but was denied exit from the women's ward because she 'did not wear a hijab.' Mohammadi's Instagram page announced that she informed her lawyer and family via phone that she was not allowed to leave the women's ward due to not wearing a hijab and was unaware of the new charges against her. According to reports, based on a notification from Branch 1 of the Evin Security Prosecutor's Office, Ms. Mohammadi was summoned by investigator Mohammad Hossein Tarian for the afternoon of Sunday, November 12. This is the seventh case against Narges Mohammadi in the past nine months due to her activities from inside prison. In recent months, two cases against her have been processed in Branches 26 and 29 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari and Amouzad, resulting in a total of 27 months of imprisonment and four months of community service cleaning streets and public places. In her Instagram post, Mohammadi stated that she 'cannot tolerate the oppressive and domineering policy of the mandatory hijab of the tyrannical religious government.' Since November 6, she has been on a hunger strike protesting the 'Islamic Republic's policy of delaying and neglecting medical care for sick prisoners' and the 'policy of either death or mandatory hijab for women in Iran.' Recently, after being transferred to the hospital and returning to prison, she ended her hunger strike. Mohammadi's Instagram page shared a message from her stating: 'I went to and returned from the hospital without a hijab, wearing a jacket and skirt, amidst dozens of security forces.' Following her hunger strike protesting the lack of medical assistance for prisoners, the Nobel Committee, the Olof Palme Foundation, and the American PEN Association expressed concern for her health. In response to international concerns about her health, the husband of this human rights activist stated on Wednesday, November 8, to VOA that she was sent to the hospital 'without mandatory hijab.' Narges Mohammadi, born in 1972 in Zanjan, has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times over the past two decades. Visitors to Narges Mohammadi during her hospital stay were threatened and arrested. The Nobel Peace Committee expressed concern for Narges Mohammadi's health status. After Narges Mohammadi's refusal to wear the hijab, Reza Shahabi also refused to wear his prison clothes. The Gholian family warned about Narges Mohammadi's situation in Evin, stating that 'they are killing her.' The Iran Human Rights Organization expressed serious concern for Narges Mohammadi's health. The American PEN Association called for Narges Mohammadi to be released 'unconditionally.' Narges Mohammadi went on a hunger strike protesting the 'lack of medical care for sick prisoners.'