Toba Owojaiye Reporting
In a novel, movie-like story, Narges Mohammadi, a prominent Iranian women’s rights advocate currently imprisoned, has been honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize.
The award serves as a much-needed critique of Tehran’s theocratic leadership and a boost for anti-government protestors.
The Nobel Prize committee underscored that the award not only recognized Narges Mohammadi’s decades-long activism for women’s rights and the abolition of the death penalty but also stood in solidarity with the recent unprecedented demonstrations in Iran. The committee explicitly called for her release from custody.
Notably, Narges Mohammadi joins the ranks of only five female laureates in the history of the Nobel Peace Prize. She is the first female laureate since 1977 and holds the distinction of being the only Asian woman and only Muslim woman ever to receive this prestigious award.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, emphasized the broader message conveyed by this recognition. She expressed the desire to inspire women worldwide who face systematic discrimination, urging them to persevere and find the courage to continue their efforts.
“We want to give the prize to encourage Narges Mohammadi and the hundreds of thousands of people who have been crying for exactly ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ in Iran,” Reiss-Andersen stated, referring to the central slogan of the protest movement.
As news of this honour spread, Tehran received no immediate official response. The Iranian government typically dismisses protests as Western-led subversion. However, the semi-official news agency Fars, known for its alignment with the Iranian regime, insinuated that Mohammadi had received the prize from Western sources, citing her actions against national security.
It’s worth noting that Narges Mohammadi is currently serving multiple sentences in Tehran’s Evin Prison, amounting to approximately 12 years of imprisonment. She has endured several periods of detention, as reported by the Front Line Defenders rights organization.
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Narges Mohammadi shines a global spotlight on the ongoing struggle for human rights and equality in Iran while also sending a message of solidarity and encouragement to women facing discrimination worldwide.