TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian authorities have temporarily released Narges Mohammadi, the country’s most prominent human rights activist and the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, for 21 days to recover from surgery, a decision her family and supporters have criticised as insufficient.
Mohammadi, who has spent much of the past two decades in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, underwent surgery in November. 2024, to remove a lesion from her lower right leg, suspected of being cancerous.
On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, an Iranian prosecutor announced that her prison term would be suspended for three weeks, far short of the three months her family and lawyers had requested to allow full recovery.
Criticism of the Shortened Suspension
Mohammadi’s family expressed frustration over the limited suspension, stating it fails to provide the necessary time for her recovery.
The Narges Foundation, led by her family, highlighted the activist’s deteriorating health and criticized the decision as indicative of the Iranian regime’s disregard for her basic rights.
“After over a decade of imprisonment, Narges required specialized medical care in a safe, sanitary environment – a basic human right,” the foundation said.
“Doctors have emphasized that a minimum of three months’ recovery is crucial for her healing.”
The foundation also noted that the suspension differs from a medical furlough, which would have allowed her recovery period to count toward her prison sentence.
Instead, Mohammadi will be required to serve an additional 30 days once she returns to prison.
Decades of Imprisonment and Advocacy
Mohammadi is serving multiple sentences totaling over 30 years on charges of acting against national security and spreading propaganda against the state.
Supporters and human rights organisations consider her a political prisoner detained for her advocacy for women’s rights and democracy in Iran.
Despite imprisonment, Mohammadi has continued her activism, campaigning for Iranian women’s rights and calling for peace in the region.
Her efforts earned her the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her “fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”
In December 2023, her children accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf in Oslo, delivering a speech that echoed her belief in the eventual dismantling of despotism in Iran.
Ongoing Health Concerns
Mohammadi’s family and lawyer have repeatedly warned that delays in her medical treatment could prove fatal.
In addition to the suspected cancer, she suffers from advanced arthritis, disc disease, and a heart condition that necessitated a heart attack-related angiography in 2021.
The family previously accused Iranian authorities of attempting to bring about her “slow death” by denying her timely surgery.
Following Tuesday’s ruling, the Narges Foundation decried the conditions Mohammadi faced in prison, noting she endured weeks of severe pain despite pleas from fellow inmates, human rights organisations, and international figures.
Global Calls for Action
Mohammadi’s case has garnered widespread attention from international human rights advocates.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other high-profile figures have called for her immediate and unconditional release.
The United Nations and various NGOs have also condemned her treatment and the broader repression of political prisoners in Iran.
While her temporary release offers a brief reprieve, supporters stress that it falls far short of addressing the systemic injustices she has faced.
“This suspension does not erase the inhumane treatment or the broader disregard for Narges Mohammadi’s basic human rights,” the Narges Foundation said.
A Symbol of Resistance
Mohammadi’s plight underscores the ongoing challenges faced by human rights defenders in Iran.
Her relentless advocacy, even from behind bars, has made her a symbol of resistance against oppression and a beacon of hope for those striving for democracy and equality in the region.
Her family and supporters continue to call for sustained international pressure to secure her full release and ensure her health and safety.
