Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner, was hospitalized after suffering severe injuries during her arrest last week, according to her family.
The 53-year-old human rights activist revealed through a phone call that she had been brought to an emergency department twice after being attacked by plainclothes agents. This brutal assault saw her receiving multiple baton blows to her head and neck.
While Iranian authorities have remained silent on the matter, they indicated that Mohammadi was detained for making 'provocative remarks' at a memorial ceremony in Mashhad.
Supporters, including the Nobel Committee and renowned filmmaker Jafar Panahi, have voiced their concerns for her safety and called for her immediate release.
As the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran, Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her relentless activism against female oppression and for the promotion of human rights, having spent over a decade in prison.
Her latest detention follows a speech she delivered at a memorial for human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi, who died under suspicious circumstances. Eyewitness accounts reported that she was attacked by several agents during the event.
In her phone call, Mohammadi described her condition as poor and mentioned that she was unsure which security forces were holding her. She also alleged that she was accused of collaborating with the Israeli government and received threats.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed deep concern for Mohammadi, labeling the circumstances surrounding her arrest as 'brutal' and urging Iranian authorities to ensure her safety and release her unconditionally.
