PEN America Awards 'Freedom to Write' Prize to Narges Mohammadi

PEN America announced on Monday that it will award the 'Freedom to Write' prize to Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist imprisoned in Iran. Suzanne Nossel, the CEO of PEN America, stated in a press release: 'Narges Mohammadi is an inspiration to the world for her courage and unyielding resistance against the Iranian government's determined efforts to silence her.' She added, 'The sacrifices that she and her family have made are heartbreaking. She is an inspiration in one of the harshest places in the world for writers, journalists, and artists.' Taghi Rahmani, a journalist and civil rights activist and Narges Mohammadi's husband, is set to accept the award on her behalf at a ceremony to be held on Thursday night at the American Museum of Natural History. The PEN Barbara Award is given to writers who have been persecuted for their activities. Previous recipients of this award include Vladislav Yesipenko, an independent journalist from Ukraine, and Zhou Xiaoping, a Chinese activist. Ms. Mohammadi, 51, has a long history of imprisonment and harsh punishments, including torture and solitary confinement. She was released in 2020 after serving 8.5 years in prison but is currently serving the remainder of her 16-year sentence in Evin Prison. On May 1 of this year, Narges Mohammadi, who was once the vice president of the now-banned Human Rights Defenders Center, along with Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, won the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize. Calls from the international community to stop executions in Iran; reactions from French parliament representatives. A request from six female political prisoners; stop the executions. Hashem Aghajeri summoned to the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. The Iranian Writers' Association calls for the unconditional release of all imprisoned journalists in Iran. Narges Mohammadi emphasizes the role of the Islamic Republic in the poisoning of students. Three imprisoned female journalists in Iran won the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize.