Imprisoned Peace Prize winner 2023: Narges Mohammadi.

 

This month it was announced to the world that the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2023 was a 51 year-old mother of two sons, Iranian activist, Narges Mohammadi. She is presently incarcerated inside the notorious Evin prison in Tehran.

She is an engineer, journalist, author and Vice-Director of the Tehran-based civil society organization Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC). Whilst in prison, she has continued to interview other women prisoners and write about their situations in her book “White Torture”.

The shocking facts about her treatment in Iran are heart-breaking; she has been arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. Her 16 year-old twin children have rarely seen their mother. Her husband, Taghi Rahmani is a writer and prominent activist who was jailed for 14 years in Iran. He lives in exile in France with their twins.

Think about 154 lashes given to an educated middle-class mother: an engineer and journalist.

Amnesty International asked for support last year:

'Arbitrarily detained Iranian human rights defender Narges Mohammadi is being tortured and otherwise ill-treated in prison in Varamin, outside Tehran, including by being intentionally denied the specialized healthcare including the medication she requires in reprisal for her human rights work. She is a prisoner of conscience who must be immediately and unconditionally released.'

Narges is a powerful, extremely brave activist.

Iran is defined as the second worst country in terms of human rights violations (Statistica 2023). Iranian authorities severely restrict freedoms of assembly and expression. Mahsa (Jina) Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, died last September 2022 in the custody of the morality police after being arrested for wearing an improper” hijab. This sparked demonstrations across the country. The Guardian UK reported (September 2023) that Iran’s parliament has approved a new bill under which women face up to 10 years in prison if they continue to defy the country’s mandatory hijab rules. UN human rights experts state that this is, “tantamount to gender apartheid”, suppressing women into “total submission”. “By approving this bill, the Islamic Republic’s parliament has put a massive lock on the bodies of Iranian women. Iran was already an open prison for the women of Iran, but now they’ve extended the brutality with which they will crack down on women by giving serious powers to those implementing it on the streets,” said the Iranian human rights lawyer Hossein Raeesi.

Human Rights Watch attested that Iranian security forces used shotguns, assault rifles, and handguns against protesters, in mostly peaceful settings. Since November 14, human rights groups are investigating the reported deaths of 341 protestors, including 52 children.

The news about Narges is thought-provoking for all of us concerned about worldwide human rights. Are we doing enough? How can we improve the lives of oppressed families and individuals? At kingstonmouth we attend rallies and demonstrations in the UK to show our support. We write articles that intend to educate and encourage debate. At demonstrations, there is often police presence but this is not aggressive or threatening: the worst that might happen at a peaceful, well-organized protest could be a reprimand from an amiable London police officer.

On learning about Narges I thought about the Suffragettes who fought for women's rights in the UK over 100 years ago. Theirs was a violent fight: many were imprisoned and force-fed. Emily Davis died horrifically when she protested at a horse-racing event, running in front of the King's horse. She died that day. Other Suffragettes were beaten by Police Officers and the public during their protests, but none faced the ignominy of 154 lashes.

The Peace prize brings recognition to Narges Mohammadi but will there be any benefit for her? Opinion is divided on this. The prize brings financial rewards but also wider knowledge of her activism, which inevitably will not improve her situation. Across the world, her activism has been written about since winning this coveted prize: articles can be read online from Canada, France, the U.S., the U.K., and India.

Just as the Suffragettes once fought for women's rights in the United Kingdom, enduring brutality and injustice, Narges Mohammadi faces a different battle, one that demands our attention and unwavering support. While the Nobel Peace Prize 2023 brings recognition to her name, it cannot undo the years of hardship she has endured.

The purpose of publishing this article is to ensure readers recognize the bravery and selflessness of women such as Narges Mohammadi. Let us not be bystanders, but active participants in the fight for a more just and humane world. We at kingstonmouth.com urge you to sign petitions, attend demonstrations and educate others about the Human Rights violations in Iran and all other oppressive regimes across the world.

Ann Smith is a British Educator and Social Activist. Kingstommouth.com is a charitable organization that has been in existence for over eight years with an interest in Politics, Human Rights, and International Development Issues. Readers wishing to comment on this article may do so at the space provided on this blog. Alternatively, they can contact us at kingstonmouth 63@ gmail.com or on our twitter or Facebook Page.

 

Donovan Reynolds is CEO of Kingstonmouth.com.  He is a trained Diplomat, Human Rights activist and a Communication Consultant. Ann Smith is a a British Educator and Social Activist. Kingstommouth.com is a charitable organization that has been in existence for over eight years with an interest in Politics, Human Rights and International Development Issues. Readers wishing to comment on this article may do so at the space provided on this blog. Alternatively, they can contact us at kingstonmouth 63@ gmail.com or on our twitter or Facebook Page.