The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced today that the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded to imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi. United Nations Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement on the same day, saying that this decision reminds people of the persecution of female human rights defenders in Iran and elsewhere.
Mohammadi has worked as a journalist for many years and is also a writer and deputy director of the Tehran-based civil society organization Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC). She is currently serving a 16-year sentence in Tehran's Evin Prison.
In September 2022, 22-year-old Iranian girl Mahsa Amini was arrested for violating the law on compulsory wearing of hijab and later died in police custody. Her death sparked nationwide protests and riots in Iran. Mohammadi, along with two other imprisoned female journalists in Iran, reported on Amini's death and received a press freedom award from UNESCO in May this year.
Guterres stressed that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize decision is a reminder that women and girls’ rights are facing strong resistance in Iran and elsewhere, and female human rights defenders are being persecuted.
"This year's Nobel Peace Prize pays tribute to all those women who risked their freedom, health and even their lives to fight for their rights," he said.
"Courage and Determination"
Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva: "I think there is no doubt that Iranian women have been a source of inspiration to the world. We have seen their courage and determination in the face of reprisals, intimidation, violence and detention."
Throssell said the courage and determination of Iranian women is remarkable. They are harassed simply for what they wear and face increasingly harsh legal, social and economic measures targeted at them.