Imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2023 on Friday for fighting the oppression of women in Iran.
With this announcement, Mohammadi becomes the 19th woman in the world and the second Iranian woman to win the coveted Nobel Peace Prize after human rights activist Shirin Ebadi won the award in 2003.
“This prize is first and foremost a recognition of the very important work of a whole movement in Iran with with its undisputed leader, Nargis Mohammadi,” said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee who announced the prize in Oslo.
“The impact of the prize is not for the Nobel committee to decide upon. We hope that it is an encouragement to continue the work in whichever form this movement finds to be fitting.”
BREAKING NEWS
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 6, 2023
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2023 #NobelPeacePrize to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.#NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/2fyzoYkHyf
Last year, the prize went to Russian human rights group Memorial, Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties and jailed Belarusian rights advocate Ales Bialiatski
Who is Narges Mohammadi?
Narges Mohammadi is known to be an Iranian campaigner and deputy head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which was founded by fellow Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Since 2011, Mohammadi has received several jail sentences and is currently is behind the bars at Tehran’s notorious Evin prison for “spreading propaganda”.
Authorities arrested Mohammadi in November after she attended a memorial for a victim of violent 2019 protests. Reiss-Andersen said Mohammadi has been imprisoned 13 times and convicted five times. In total, she has been sentenced to 31 years in prison.
Mohammadi was behind bars for the recent nationwide protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after she she was detained by the country’s morality police.
About the Nobel Peace Prize
Unlike the other Nobel prizes that are selected and announced in Stockholm, founder Alfred Nobel decreed that the peace prize be decided and awarded in Oslo by the five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee.
The independent panel is appointed by the Norwegian parliament.’
The peace prize can be awarded to individuals or organisations.
This year, the committee received 351 nominations – 259 for individuals and 92 for organisations.
People who can make nominations include former Nobel Peace Prize winners, members of the committee, heads of states, members of parliaments and professors of political science, history and international law.
