Oslo, Norway – The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Narges Mohammadi, a prominent women’s rights campaigner who is currently imprisoned in Iran. She is being honored for her unwavering fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her advocacy for human rights and freedom.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo, announced the award, stating, “Narges Mohammadi is recognized for her tireless efforts against the oppression of women in Iran and her relentless pursuit of human rights and freedom for all.”
Narges Mohammadi has dedicated much of her life to campaigning against the mandatory hijab for women and the death penalty in Iran. She is also the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre, an organization founded by Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, who herself received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed the hope that Iran would release Narges Mohammadi so that she could attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony scheduled for December. “If the Iranian authorities make the right decision, they will release her so she can be present to receive this honor, which is our primary hope,” Reiss-Andersen said.
Despite her prolonged activism, Narges Mohammadi has paid a significant personal price. She has been arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. Her enduring struggle has made her an icon of courage and determination, inspiring women not only in Iran but around the world.
UN human rights office spokeswoman Elizabeth Throssell applauded the Nobel Peace Prize decision, stating, “The award really highlights the courage and determination of the women of Iran and how they are an inspiration to the world.”
Narges Mohammadi’s dedication to human rights and her relentless advocacy for women’s rights continue to resonate, even as she remains incarcerated. Her unwavering commitment to her causes stands as a testament to the enduring power of activism and the pursuit of justice.
The Nobel Peace Prize includes a gold medal, a diploma, and a prize sum of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million). The award ceremony will take place in Oslo on December 10, commemorating the anniversary of the death of the Nobel Prizes’ creator, Alfred Nobel.
The Nobel Peace Prize is the only Nobel Prize awarded in Oslo, with other disciplines announced in Stockholm. The Nobel season will conclude on Monday with the Nobel economics prize.
