In a powerful and impactful decision, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has announced that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2023 will be awarded to Narges Mohammadi for her relentless battle against the oppression of women in Iran and her unwavering commitment to promoting human rights and freedom for all. Her extraordinary dedication to these causes, despite the tremendous personal costs she has endured, has earned her this prestigious recognition.
Narges Mohammadi’s remarkable journey has been marked by immense sacrifice. She has been arrested by the Iranian regime an astounding 13 times, convicted on five occasions, and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison, accompanied by the cruel punishment of 154 lashes. As of the committee’s announcement, she remains imprisoned.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee underscored the pivotal role Narges Mohammadi played in inspiring the largest political demonstrations against Iran’s theocratic regime since its rise to power in 1979. Triggered by the tragic killing of Mahsa Jina Amini while in the custody of the Iranian morality police in September 2022, these protests, under the rallying cry “Woman – Life – Freedom,” drew hundreds of thousands of Iranians into the streets to condemn the regime’s brutality and oppression of women. Tragically, the regime responded with a harsh crackdown, resulting in the loss of over 500 lives, thousands of injuries, and the detention of at least 20,000 people.
The motto adopted by these courageous demonstrators, “Woman – Life – Freedom,” perfectly encapsulates Narges Mohammadi’s life’s work:
Woman: She has been an unyielding advocate against systematic discrimination and oppression of women in Iran.
Life: Narges has dedicated herself to supporting women’s pursuit of full and dignified lives, even when faced with persecution, imprisonment, torture, and death.
Freedom: Her fight extends to advocating for freedom of expression, independence, and against oppressive rules that require women to remain hidden and veiled. These freedom demands transcend gender and apply to the entire population.
Narges Mohammadi’s journey as an activist began in the 1990s when she was a young physics student. She soon distinguished herself as a champion of equality and women’s rights. After completing her studies, she worked as an engineer and a columnist for reform-minded newspapers. In 2003, she became involved with the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran, an organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Throughout her journey, Narges Mohammadi faced relentless persecution. Her initial arrest in 2011 resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for her efforts to assist incarcerated activists and their families. After her release on bail, she focused her activism against the death penalty, a cause that led to her re-arrest in 2015 and additional years behind bars.
Inside prison, Narges Mohammadi exposed the regime’s systematic use of torture and sexualized violence against political prisoners, particularly women. Last year, when the wave of protests reached the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, she assumed a leadership role, organizing solidarity actions among her fellow inmates and expressing support for the demonstrators.
Despite stricter conditions imposed by prison authorities, she managed to smuggle out an article published by The New York Times on the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini’s killing. The message was clear: “The more of us they lock up, the stronger we become.” Even from captivity, Narges Mohammadi has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the protests continue.
In awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi in 2023, the Norwegian Nobel Committee aims to honor her courageous fight for human rights, freedom, and democracy in Iran. This recognition also extends to the hundreds of thousands of individuals who, in the past year, stood up against the regime’s discriminatory and oppressive policies targeting women. It is a reaffirmation that equal rights for all are fundamental to achieving the global fraternity that Alfred Nobel sought to promote. This award continues a long tradition of the Norwegian Nobel Committee recognizing those who work tirelessly to advance social justice, human rights, and democracy—indispensable prerequisites for lasting peace.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
