Iranian security forces “violently” arrested Nobel Peace Prize winner Nargess Mohammadi at a memorial service, his supporters said on Friday.
Mohammadi was recently arrested at the memorial service for Khosrow Alikordi, a human rights lawyer who was found dead under disputed circumstances.
Her Paris-based husband, Taghi Rahmani, said on Twitter that the arrest took place in the city of Mashhad.
The governor of Mashhad later confirmed the detention, according to the Khorasan Online portal. He spoke of “temporary detention” ordered by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The reason for this was the slogans that violated the social order.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said Mohammadi was arrested in a “brutal” manner and should be released immediately.
What do we know about Mohammadi’s arrest?
The Narges Foundation announced Mohammadi’s arrest on 29 October.
“The Narges Foundation has received credible information that Narges Mohammadi was violently detained by security and police forces an hour ago during Khosrow Alikordi’s seventh-day memorial ceremony,” the post said.
The foundation cited “unconfirmed reports” that other human rights activists, including Sepideh Kolian, were also arrested.
“The Narges Foundation calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained individuals who were attending a memorial ceremony to pay their respects and demonstrate solidarity,” it said in a statement. “His arrest is a serious violation of fundamental freedoms.”
The Norwegian Nobel Committee also condemned Mohammadi’s arrest.
“The Norwegian Nobel Committee is deeply concerned by today’s brutal arrest of Nerges Mohammadi along with many other activists,” the committee said in a statement. In a statement, the committee described the Iranian activist as a “staunch defender of human rights, freedom of expression and democratic participation in Iran.”
Who is Narges Mohammadi?
Nerges Mohammadi, who has campaigned for human rights in Iran for decades, has been in and out of prison for nearly 20 years because of her tireless advocacy in defiance of the Islamic Republic’s rule.
In 2023, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while in prison while serving a sentence of 13 years and nine months on charges of collusion against state security and propaganda against the government of Iran.
She received three weeks of leave due to medical concerns in December 2024, but has been able to stay out of jail since then.
Despite months of warnings from supporters that Mohammadi could be returned to prison, she maintained her activism and joined public protests, including outside Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, where she was held.
It was unclear whether Mohammadi’s arrest Friday would send him back to jail to continue his sentence.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico