UN Experts Call for Immediate Release of Narges Mohammadi from Prison

On Thursday, October 12, UN experts called for the immediate release of Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist and opponent of the death penalty, who received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize last week. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated in a press release: "We are dismayed that Iranian authorities continue to deprive Ms. Mohammadi of her freedom despite concerns about her deteriorating health in prison, contrary to medical recommendations and their commitments to international human rights laws." The Nobel Committee awarded the Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi on October 6 for her fight against oppression of women in Iran. Born in 1972 in Zanjan, Mohammadi has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times over the past two decades. In her latest legal case, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "anti-government propaganda" and is currently held in Evin Prison in Tehran. The UN Working Group had previously deemed her detention arbitrary and called for her immediate release and compensation. According to this group, Ms. Mohammadi's detention violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The experts also noted that her detention and imprisonment violate international laws due to discrimination based on her status as a human rights defender. They urged the Iranian government to ensure her immediate release and provide her with urgent medical care. UN experts stated: "It is deeply regrettable that despite the requests from the UN and the international community, Iranian authorities continue to criminalize Narges Mohammadi for her human rights activities." Mohammadi has refused mandatory hijab; Mustafa Nili: They did not allow visits. The news of Narges Mohammadi's Nobel Peace Prize has resonated among female prisoners in Evin; the slogan "Women, Life, Freedom" echoed. Congratulations from 22 female political prisoners to Narges Mohammadi: Efforts for achieving freedom and equality are valued. Empress Farah Pahlavi: Narges Mohammadi's Nobel Prize is a manifestation of Iranian women's struggle for freedom.