Narges Mohammadi: The Darkness and Corruption Resulting from the Suppression of Information and Free Expression is Part of the History of Iranian Suffering

Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, was represented by her husband and two children at a press conference in Oslo on Saturday, December 9, a day before the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Kiana Rahmani, Ms. Mohammadi's daughter, read her mother's message, which began by mentioning the names of five female journalists and fellow inmates: Niloufar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, Vida Rabani, Saideh Shafiei, and Nasim Soltani Bagi. In her message, Narges Mohammadi stated, "The darkness and corruption resulting from the suppression of information and free expression is part of the history of Iranian suffering. In response, the arrest and imprisonment of journalists and the confiscation of press outlets, along with ongoing activities against it, have been part of the struggles and resistance of the Iranian people." She further noted the arrest of 100 journalists during the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police and the beginning of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, saying, "This oppression began with the establishment of the authoritarian regime and in the first 20 years of the religious government, during which 250 media outlets were confiscated and 800 journalists were summoned, arrested, and imprisoned." Additionally, Ms. Mohammadi emphasized the significant role that media outside of Iran has played in reflecting the voices of protesters in Iran and exposing the truths about oppression and the suppression of freedoms, stating that the people of Iran need such support. Ali Rahmani, Ms. Mohammadi's son, described his mother as a kind person who has always cared for them when asked about her character and the difficulties they have endured. He added that his mother began her struggle in Iran for her two children so that other children could grow up and live in a free country. Taghi Rahmani, Narges Mohammadi's husband, also spoke about her decision to join the hunger strike of two Baha'i prisoners, Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, in Evin Prison, stating that "Mahvash Sabet has been imprisoned for the past ten years and has been deprived of medical care, and Narges has said that she will join the hunger strike of these two Baha'i prisoners to raise awareness about them." The Instagram page of the Nobel Institute in Norway reported on Thursday, December 7, that Narges Mohammadi's family had arrived in Oslo to participate in the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and would represent her in receiving this award in the coming days. The Nobel Foundation announced Narges Mohammadi as the winner of the 2023 Peace Prize on October 6. She is the second Iranian to receive the Nobel Peace Prize after Shirin Ebadi. The invitation address for this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner reads: "Ms. Narges Mohammadi, Evin Prison, Tehran, Iran." Following the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Narges Mohammadi, many calls for her release have been made from inside and outside Iran, but these requests have gone unanswered, and she remains in prison.