Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi 'violently' arrested in Iran after writing critical article

Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been “violently arrested” by Iranian security forces in the eastern city of Mashhad, her foundation has said.

The Nobel Committee said that they are “deeply concerned by today’s brutal arrest of Narges Mohammadi” and called on the authorities “to immediately clarify Mohammadi’s whereabouts, ensure her safety and integrity, and to release her without conditions”.

Mohammadi, 53, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her activism against the oppression of women in Iran. She was reportedly arrested along with other activists on Friday.

‘Arrested violently’

Mohammadi was released from jail briefly in December 2024 on health grounds, after being held in the notorious Elvin Prison in Iran since 2021.

Her recent arrest happened when she was attending the memorial service of Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer found dead in his office last week.

Several other activists, along with Mohammadi, were arrested from the ceremony, where they were reportedly shouting slogans like “death to the dictator” and “long live Iran”.

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Taghi Rahmani, Mohammadi’s husband, told the BBC, “They arrested Narges violently. The brother of the lawyer witnessed her arrest at the memorial. This act is against human rights laws, and amounts to some kind of revenge. This happened in Mashhad today and is concerning because the establishment’s crackdown has intensified recently.”

Why was she arrested?

Mohammadi has recently accused Iranian authorities of escalating repression following the June ceasefire with Israel.

Last week, she wrote an article for Time magazine describing how the Iranian state exerts control over every aspect of personal and public life.

“Their peace is disrupted by surveillance, censorship, arbitrary arrest, torture, and the constant threat of violence,” she said.

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She also told the Nobel Committee that she had received warnings from “agents of the regime” through indirect channels and via her lawyers.

“The threats conveyed to Ms Mohammadi make it clear that her security is at stake, unless she commits to end all public engagement within Iran, as well as any international advocacy or media appearances in support of democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression,” the Nobel Committee said in a statement.

Despite these threats, she has remained defiant over the past year, refusing to wear the mandatory headscarf and continuing to meet with fellow activists across the country.