Nobel Peace Prize won by Narges Mohammadi for ‘fight against the oppression of women in Iran’

The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her promotion of human rights and freedom for all. Mohammadi has been a symbol of the fight for human rights in Iran, having been arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. Despite being in prison as she speaks, Mohammadi’s powerful voice continues to be heard in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. In an audio recording from inside Evin, Mohammadi is heard leading the chants of “woman, life, freedom,” the slogan of the uprising sparked last year by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country’s morality police.

Henrik Urdal, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, described Mohammadi’s win as “a tremendous achievement for women’s rights in Iran.” He described the death of Mahsa Amini as a catalyst against oppression and violence, sending a powerful message to the leaders of Iran that women’s rights are fundamental everywhere in the world. Mohammadi’s recognition comes after a year of massive upheaval in Iran, sparked by the death of Amini, which swelled into nationwide protests lasting months. The unrest was described as the largest political demonstration against Iran’s theocratic regime since it came to power in 1979.