Iranian authorities temporarily released Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi from prison for three weeks on medical grounds, sparking calls from the Nobel committee and her supporters for her permanent freedom.
In Paris, Mohammadi’s 18-year-old son, Ali Rahmani, shared that he had spoken with his mother by phone for the first time in two years. Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, reported that upon release, Mohammadi vocalized the protest slogan “Woman Life Freedom,” underscoring her ongoing resistance despite health struggles.
Her attorney, Mostafa Nili, initially disclosed her temporary release on social media, noting the short suspension of her jail term. Supporters criticized the limited duration, pressing for a longer respite or complete release, labelling the current action as “too little, too late.”
Throughout her brief freedom, Mohammadi affirmed her commitment to human rights and opposition to Iran’s gender policies. She expressed these views vividly during a heartfelt phone conversation with her son. Despite recent surgery for a non-malignant growth, her health remains precarious, exacerbated by inadequate medical care in prison.
Read: Jailed Iranian Narges Mohammadi Wins Nobel Peace Prize 2023
The head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, urged Iran to end her imprisonment and ensure proper medical care. Meanwhile, lawyer Nili emphasized her need for regular health check-ups following her surgery.
Mohammadi, jailed since November 2021 for her activism against compulsory hijab laws and capital punishment, has spent much of the past decade in and out of Evin prison. Her persistent activism includes hunger strikes and participation in prison yard protests. In her ongoing fight for women’s rights, Mohammadi has faced intensified government oppression but remains a defiant voice against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
