Washington D.C. – The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs has issued a public statement on social media, asserting that the Iranian regime is "threatening the life of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi and other Iranian political prisoners." The department urged Iran to "stop using violence to silence political prisoners and should free them all now." This statement reflects a standing concern, amplified by credible reports of escalating repression within Iran.
Narges Mohammadi, a prominent Iranian human rights activist, was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her relentless fight against the oppression of women and her broader advocacy for human rights and freedom in Iran. She has been repeatedly imprisoned by Iranian authorities, currently serving multiple sentences in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. Her activism includes campaigning against the mandatory hijab, the death penalty, and the systematic use of torture in Iranian prisons.
Reports from the Norwegian Nobel Committee and other human rights organizations have indicated that Mohammadi has faced threats of "physical elimination" and that her prison conditions have significantly worsened since receiving the prestigious award. She has also reportedly been denied adequate medical care for serious health issues, including cardiac and spinal problems. Despite her incarceration, Mohammadi has continued her activism, even receiving additional prison sentences for "spreading propaganda against the state" from within prison walls.
The U.S. State Department's tweet underscores a consistent message from the United States regarding Iran's human rights record. A spokesperson for the department reiterated concerns about the "deteriorating human rights situation in Iran," particularly the treatment of those advocating for fundamental freedoms. The call for the release of Mohammadi and all political prisoners unjustly detained in Iran aligns with international human rights organizations like Amnesty International, which have documented widespread abuses, arbitrary detentions, and suppression of dissent targeting activists and women's rights advocates.
The situation of Narges Mohammadi is seen as emblematic of the broader crackdown on civil society and dissent in Iran. Her children, who accepted the Nobel Prize on her behalf, have not seen her for years, highlighting the personal cost of her activism. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with persistent calls for Iran to uphold its international human rights obligations and ensure the safety and release of all political prisoners.