Reactions to the Selection of the Second Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Winner; Global Praise and Reception; Islamic Republic: We Condemn It

The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi, a civil rights activist currently imprisoned by the Islamic Republic, continues to elicit various reactions. From a coordinated attack by state media in Iran to the admiration of international organizations and figures worldwide. Concurrently, with the commencement of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, some representatives of this assembly also expressed their dissatisfaction regarding this award in alignment with government officials. The response to the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Narges Mohammadi in Iranian newspapers showed a split; newspapers affiliated with the 'Principlist' faction in Iran coordinated their coverage with articles and headlines against the 'Nobel', while newspapers aligned with the 'Reformist' faction either remained silent on the front page or mentioned it in the smallest possible size on the margins. Newspapers such as Kayhan, Javan, Jam-e Jam, and Farhikhtegan, which are linked to security and governmental institutions, published similar reports condemning this award. Islamic Republic officials reacted to this event by condemning it, while international organizations and world leaders welcomed it, recognizing this selection as an acknowledgment of the continuous efforts of civil activists for the fundamental rights of Iranian citizens. Narges Mohammadi, a prominent civil rights activist and political prisoner, was announced as this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee on Friday. This award was given due to Mohammadi's decisive role in combating the oppression of women in Iran and her struggle for the promotion of human rights and freedom for all. She is the second Iranian woman to receive this award after Shirin Ebadi. In response to Narges Mohammadi's success in receiving this prestigious global award, U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated her in a statement and called on the Islamic Republic officials to immediately release her and other gender equality activists. Biden highlighted Mohammadi's strengthened resolve and efforts despite her ongoing imprisonment, harassment, and torture, stating that this award is a recognition of her and a sign of the global acknowledgment of her call for freedom and equality. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reacted to the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to this imprisoned human rights activist, stating on social media that 'this award is well-deserved for Narges Mohammadi, who has not ceased to advocate for human rights and gender equality even from behind bars.' Blinken further emphasized, 'We continue to demand her release and the release of all Iranians who are detained solely for their efforts to achieve human rights.' U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Azra Zia, also congratulated Narges Mohammadi on her Nobel Peace Prize win and called on Islamic Republic officials to release this human rights activist and all 'innocent' prisoners. The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in response to the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Narges Mohammadi, issued a statement on social media stating, 'Narges Mohammadi is a renowned human rights hero and an inspiration to millions inside Iran and around the world. The Nobel Peace Prize for Narges Mohammadi is a testament to her courage in amplifying the voices of all Iranian women and a tribute to the bravery of every Iranian who rises and fights for justice.' European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also welcomed the Nobel Committee's decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi, stating, 'Narges Mohammadi, as a prominent Iranian human rights defender, has always fought for women's rights, the abolition of the death penalty, and the improvement of prison conditions inside Iran. She is currently imprisoned in Iran and serving multiple sentences totaling 12 years, but she never ceases to use her voice to uphold human dignity and the rights of Iranians, even from her prison cell.' Other world leaders, including those from Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and Israel, regarded the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi as a 'strong sign' of support for the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests and emphasized the need for her immediate release and that of all political prisoners in Iran. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 to Narges Mohammadi was also met with widespread approval among Iranians. Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the Human Rights Defenders Center, stated to Voice of America that the Nobel Peace Prize for Narges Mohammadi signifies that the world has seen the struggle of Iranian women. Prince Reza Pahlavi described the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi as a recognition of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement and expressed hope that this award would lead to a change in Western policy towards providing tangible tools for maximum support of the Iranian people and their national revolution. Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi congratulated Narges Mohammadi on receiving the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, describing it as a reflection of the importance of Iranian women's freedom struggles in the eyes of the world. In her message published on social media, she wrote, 'The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Ms. Narges Mohammadi is a manifestation of the importance of Iranian women's freedom struggles in the eyes of the world. Iranian women have lived under the greatest pressures and oppressions for four decades since the beginning of the 1979 upheaval. Nevertheless, throughout these years, alongside freedom-seeking Iranian men, they have fought to reclaim their lost rights and have shown that they deserve the best.' She also expressed hope for the immediate release of Ms. Mohammadi and other political prisoners from the clutches of tyranny, noting, 'I hope this award will draw more attention and assistance from the global community to the struggles of the Iranian people to end this long night; light always triumphs over darkness.' Hamed Esmaeilion, a member of the Association of Families of Victims of Flight PS752, reacted to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi, stating, 'What can be learned from you is perseverance and resilience in the struggle.' Masih Alinejad, a journalist and political activist, also reacted to the awarding of this prize to Ms. Mohammadi on her Telegram channel, writing, 'Even from prison, she has not ceased her efforts for human rights and democracy.' Molavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, congratulated Narges Mohammadi on her Nobel Peace Prize win via a message on social media, writing, 'Ms. Narges Mohammadi has endured long imprisonments, threats, and unbearable hardships in the path of justice-seeking and human dignity.' Zahra Rahnavard, a political activist currently under house arrest with her husband Mir Hossein Mousavi, described Narges Mohammadi's Nobel Peace Prize win as 'adding to the dignity of Iranian women' and wrote, 'It is regrettable and sorrowful that the rulers of Iran, with their brutal violence against fighting and freedom-seeking women and the violation of their human rights, turn every joy into poison for the nation by killing girls like 'Mahsa' and 'Armita.' Widespread reactions from civil, political activists, and artists included Nazanin Boniadi, a human rights activist and actress, Abdollah Mohtadi, Secretary-General of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, Mojgan Eftekhari, mother of Mahsa Amini, Amjad Hossein-Panahi, a political activist and brother of Ramin Hossein-Panahi, a political prisoner executed by the Islamic Republic, Arash Sadeghi, a human rights activist and former political prisoner, Darya Safai, an Iranian-born lawmaker in the Belgian parliament, Atena Daemi, a human rights activist and former political prisoner, Taraneh Alidoosti, and Katayoun Riahi, actresses who faced backlash from the Islamic Republic for removing their compulsory hijab, and dozens of other prominent figures and social and political personalities from inside and outside Iran expressed their happiness over Narges Mohammadi's success, hoping for the victory of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, the amplification of this movement, and the ultimate establishment of justice. On the other hand, officials and state media of the Islamic Republic expressed their dissatisfaction with the awarding of this prestigious global award to a female political and human rights activist, attempting to downplay or render this award insignificant. Malek Shariati, a representative from Tehran, in a public session today, reacted to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi, stating, 'An injustice is being done to the free nations of the world in awarding the Nobel Peace Prize; this injustice is so obvious that this prize was given to the head of the Zionist regime and similar individuals, and today it is awarded to one of the rioters.' Mohammadreza Mir-Tajeddini, a representative from Tabriz, also stated, 'It is regrettable that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to someone who has been active in the riots.' Yesterday, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic, referred to Qassem Soleimani as the 'most deserving' person to receive this award, stating, 'He was a symbol of global peace who fought against terrorism and the most violent criminals for two decades and guaranteed the security of the region and the world.' Kazem Gharibabadi, Secretary of the Human Rights Headquarters of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic, criticized the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi, stating, 'The victims of terrorism and sanctions, chemical attack victims, and martyrs of the imposed war, as well as the mothers of martyrs, elite and specialist women who have dedicated their lives to the development and progress of the country and serving the people, are the true winners of this award.' Narges Mohammadi, born in 1972 in Zanjan, has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times over the past two decades. She is currently imprisoned for her human rights activities in Iran. Narges Mohammadi began her career as a journalist in the publication Payam-e Hajar in the late 1990s. In the late 1990s, she joined the Human Rights Defenders Center, which was headed by Shirin Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. Mohammadi later became the deputy head of this center. Narges Mohammadi's political activism and her role as the 'unholy mother' were explained by Mansoureh Hosseini.