Attending Alikordi's Memorial, Detained by Security Forces
Nobel Committee: "Disclose Her Whereabouts, Ensure Immediate Protection"
Narges Mohammadi, Iran's leading women's rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has reportedly been detained by authorities once again, drawing strong criticism from the international community. Mohammadi has experienced repeated cycles of imprisonment and release over the years.
The Narges Foundation, operated by Mohammadi's family, announced on December 12 (local time) via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that she was arrested by police at the scene after attending a memorial event for human rights lawyer Khosro Alikordi. Other Iranian activists, including Sepideh Gholian, Pouran Najemi, Hasti Amiri, and Aliyeh Motalebzadeh, were also present at the event and were reportedly detained as well.
This is a photo of Narges Mohammadi, a prominent human rights activist from Iran, attending a women's rights conference held in Tehran, Iran, in July 2008. Photo by AP Yonhap News
At the end of last year, Mohammadi was granted temporary release after her sentence was suspended due to the need for treatment of a medical condition. However, concerns about threats to her safety persisted, and in July, the Norwegian Nobel Committee once again called on the Iranian government to guarantee her security.
Following news of her latest detention, the Norwegian Nobel Committee issued a statement strongly criticizing the Iranian government. The committee expressed "deep concern over the brutal arrest of Mohammadi and other activists," urging Iranian authorities to "immediately disclose Mohammadi's whereabouts and guarantee her safety." The committee also noted that Mohammadi was detained just two days after Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was named a co-recipient of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, suggesting there may be a political message given the close relationship between Iran and Venezuela.
Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency claimed that "some attendees chanted slogans that violated norms" at Alikordi's funeral and that prosecutors carried out the temporary detentions as a "protective measure." However, the agency did not disclose the names of those detained or the specific charges against them.
The Wall Street Journal, citing testimony from Mohammadi's siblings, reported more details about the incident. According to their account, while Mohammadi was giving a speech at the memorial, security forces stormed in, dispersed the crowd with batons, struck Mohammadi's legs, and forcibly dragged her away by her hair. Another sibling was reportedly present at the scene as well. The family believes that the authorities feared the potential impact of Mohammadi's remarks on the public.
Over the past two decades, Mohammadi has been arrested a total of 13 times, repeatedly cycling between imprisonment and release. In 2021, she was detained again for attending a memorial for victims of anti-government protests and was released from Tehran's Evin Prison in December last year for medical treatment. Mohammadi has gained international recognition for her activism against the oppression of women and her demands for freedom and human rights. While incarcerated, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023.
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