Narges Mohammadi: The slogans of imprisoned women have 'broken' the walls of Evin

Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate currently on temporary medical leave from Evin prison, stated in an interview with CNN on Wednesday, December 19, that she opposes the policies of the Islamic Republic. She also mentioned that the 'walls' of Evin prison have been 'cracked' and 'broken' by the slogans of her fellow inmates. It appears that Ms. Mohammadi is referring to the protest actions of political prisoners in Evin, which have been reported multiple times. For instance, in August of this year, political prisoners in the women's section of Evin protested against the execution of Reza Rasayi, a detainee from the nationwide protests of 2022, by chanting slogans such as 'Death to the Dictator' and 'Death to the Executing Government,' breaking down the guard office door and clashing with security forces sent to suppress the prisoners. In her interview with CNN, Narges Mohammadi also referred to the violent treatment of inmates by prison officials, including herself, stating that she has been 'severely beaten' by prison guards and subsequently denied medical treatment. Nevertheless, the Nobel Peace Prize winner emphasized, 'Whatever punishment they impose on me, I will stand firm and oppose the policies of the Islamic Republic.' On December 13, she also stated in a video call with the Nobel Committee, 'Although I can do more outside of prison, I will not allow my imprisonment to silence me.' According to AFP, Narges Mohammadi insisted that 'commitment to women's rights, human rights, and freedom cannot be confined by any prison walls,' adding, 'Defending human rights and women's rights is not a crime.' She condemned the 'silent massacre of political prisoners' by the Islamic Republic, asserting, 'I must be free to continue my work.' The Nobel Peace Prize winner added that even if the Islamic Republic could silence her, nothing would change for her because 'the people of Iran have risen up.' The United Nations, the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and various organizations and individuals have called for her unconditional and permanent release. Jürgen Watne Friis, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to the Japanese organization 'Nihon Hidankyo,' a movement of survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, urging the Islamic Republic to permanently end Narges Mohammadi's imprisonment. Narges Mohammadi has been temporarily released from prison for three weeks to receive medical treatment following 'tumor surgery and bone marrow transplant.' The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, in response to her temporary release, told the Persian section of Voice of America, 'We again call for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi and other political prisoners who are unjustly imprisoned.' Narges Mohammadi, who has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times over the past two decades, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for 'propaganda against the regime' in her latest legal case and is currently held in Evin prison in Tehran. This human rights activist has faced numerous fabricated charges from the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic during her imprisonment. The U.S. has called for the immediate and permanent release of Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Committee has demanded her 'permanent freedom,' and her temporary medical leave was granted based on legal medical opinions. The UN fact-finding committee has called for her immediate release, and hundreds of civil activists have urged Emmanuel Macron to work for Narges Mohammadi's freedom.