Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Iranian Activist Narges Mohammadi for her unwavering fight against the oppression of women in Iran, particularly those challenging the mandatory hijab. Despite enduring multiple imprisonments and personal sacrifices, Mohammadi’s courage and dedication have been recognized.
The announcement came as the world marked the 75th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Mohammadi, who has been imprisoned since November 2021, has been arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes for her activism. Her recognition also pays tribute to the countless people who have demonstrated against the Iranian regime’s discriminatory policies and oppression targeting women.
Iran’s crackdown on last year’s uprising resulted in the deaths of 551 protesters, including 68 children and 49 women, with thousands more arrested. Despite the risks, women have continued to defy the mandatory hijab in public, particularly in major cities like Tehran.
While Mohammadi is celebrated as an undisputed leader of the movement, her incarceration prevents her from attending the Nobel Prize ceremony in Oslo on December 10, where she would receive a diploma, a gold medal, and $1 million in recognition of her exceptional efforts.
This Nobel Peace Prize follows the 20th-anniversary recognition of Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi and symbolically aligns with the 75th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.