Nobel Committee Calls for 'Permanent Freedom' of Narges Mohammadi

Following the temporary medical leave of Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, from Evin Prison, the Nobel Committee has called for her permanent release. Jürgen Watne Friis, head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, stated on Wednesday, December 14, that due to Mohammadi's illness, 'We urge Iranian authorities to ensure her access to appropriate medical treatment by ending her imprisonment permanently.' Narges Mohammadi has been temporarily released for three weeks to pursue medical treatment after a 'tumor operation and bone graft.' Mustafa Nili, Mohammadi's lawyer, announced on December 14 via social media platform 'X' that his client was released due to her physical condition following the tumor removal and bone graft surgery performed 21 days ago. Simultaneously, the 'Steering Committee of the Narges Freedom Coalition' welcomed the temporary release of this imprisoned human rights activist and called for her 'full and unconditional freedom.' According to a statement published on the 'Narges Mohammadi Foundation' page, she recently underwent 'a complex surgery to remove a bone lesion from her leg suspected of being cancerous,' and her three-week medical leave was granted 'despite a request for a three-month medical leave from the treatment team.' According to Mustafa Nili, 'the removed tumor was benign,' but Narges Mohammadi must be examined 'every three months for this matter.' In this context, last week, Vida Rabani, a journalist imprisoned in Evin Prison, reported in a letter that Narges Mohammadi has developed 'bedsores' following her recent surgery and noted that Evin Prison officials are ignoring 'Narges's heavy surgical wound, bedsores, the unsanitary conditions of the room and restroom, and the lack of medical facilities.' Vida Rabani and student activist Motahareh Ghonei have been on a hunger strike since November 28 in protest against the lack of attention from Evin Prison authorities to the situation of Narges Mohammadi and other political prisoners like Varisheh Moradi. Additionally, in recent months, many organizations and civil and human rights activists have called for the immediate release of this Nobel Peace Prize winner. The U.S. State Department has repeatedly urged the Iranian government to stop attacks against human rights defenders and to release all unjustly detained prisoners, including Narges Mohammadi. Judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic use the denial of medical treatment for some political prisoners as leverage against them. 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. During her imprisonment, she has faced multiple fabricated cases by the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic. Source: AFP and previous reports from Voice of America.