Narges Mohammadi, born on April 21, 1972, is an Iranian human rights activist. In 2016, she received a 16-year prison sentence in Tehran for leading a human rights movement advocating the abolition of the death penalty. After being released in 2020, she was re-imprisoned in 2021 and has remained there since. Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, a political activist, resides in exile in Paris with their two children, and they have been separated for years.
Mohammadi, 51, has faced persistent incarceration since 2010, with a total of 13 arrests, 5 convictions, and a cumulative 31-year prison sentence. Presently, she is jailed for “spreading propaganda” according to the Iranian government.
On December 10, 2023, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony took place in Oslo, Norway. Narges Mohammadi was honored with the prestigious award “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.” Despite her absence, her teenage children, Kiana and Ali Rahmani, aged 17, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. The prize includes a monetary award of $1 million.
During the ceremony, the twins read a speech smuggled from prison on behalf of their mother. Mohammadi denounced Iran’s government, expressing confidence in the Iranian people’s ability to overcome repression and authoritarianism. She stated, “The Iranian people, with perseverance, will overcome repression and authoritarianism, Have no doubt, this is certain.”
Narges Mohammadi’s recognition by the Nobel Peace Prize highlights her dedicated advocacy for human rights and gender equality in Iran, despite facing prolonged imprisonment and separation from her family. The courage of her children accepting the award on her behalf adds a poignant dimension to her ongoing struggle for justice.