Jailed Nobel Laureate's Life at Risk If She Is Not Released from Iranian Custody, Nobel Committee Chief Says

Narges Mohammadi, an imprisoned Iranian human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize winner, is facing a critical health crisis, as stated by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Following a "catastrophic deterioration" in her health, she was urgently transferred from prison to a hospital in Zanjan, Iran. The committee's chair, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, emphasized that her life is now dependent on the Iranian authorities.

The Narges Mohammadi Foundation detailed that she suffered two complete episodes of loss of consciousness and a severe cardiac crisis. Additionally, Mohammadi experienced dangerously high blood pressure and severe nausea prior to her hospitalization. This transfer, described as an "unavoidable necessity," highlights the lack of adequate medical care within the prison system.

Mohammadi, aged 53, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while she was imprisoned for advocating women's rights and fighting against the death penalty in Iran. She has been in custody since December 12, 2022, where she was sentenced to an additional seven and a half years for her activism. Her family and supporters have been vocal about her deteriorating condition, which they attribute to systematic medical neglect during her imprisonment.

Her brother, Hamidreza Mohammadi, emphasized the desperate situation, stating that the family is "fighting for her life," and that Iranian prosecutors have been obstructing their efforts to secure proper medical care. Eyewitness accounts of her condition indicate serious concerns, as she has reportedly suffered multiple health crises, including a suspected heart attack in March 2026.

The Nobel Committee has previously condemned the ongoing mistreatment of Mohammadi and called for her immediate release to receive proper medical treatment, reiterating that her imprisonment stems solely from her peaceful human rights work.

Given the urgency of her situation, both international authorities and human rights groups are intensifying their calls for action to ensure her health and safety in light of the Iranian regime’s reported response to dissent and activism.