Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been granted a three-week medical furlough from prison, according to her lawyer.
Mostafa Nili, Mohammadi’s legal representative, stated that authorities suspended her sentence based on a doctor’s recommendation following surgery to remove a tumor.
While Mohammadi’s family and supporters welcomed the temporary release, they emphasized that it was “too little, too late” and called for her permanent freedom.
The 52-year-old human rights activist has been incarcerated in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison since 2021.
Following her release, a video surfaced on Mohammadi’s Instagram account showing her being wheeled out of an ambulance on a stretcher. In the footage, she can be heard shouting “Woman, Life, Freedom” – the rallying cry of the 2022-2023 protests that challenged Iran’s Islamic regime.
Images circulating on social media depicted Mohammadi’s right leg heavily bandaged.She was also seen holding a picture of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old iranian woman whose death in police custody in September 2022 ignited nationwide protests.
“She came out in a good state of mind,a combative state despite her very fragile state of health,” her husband,Taghi rahmani,told reporters.
Her 18-year-old son, Ali Rahmani, described a brief but intense phone conversation with his mother. “She was able to tell me that she loves me,” he shared. ”The first thing she told me was that she’d left Evin prison without the compulsory veil.”
Jorgen Watne Frydnes, head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, urged Iranian authorities to “permanently end her imprisonment and ensure that she will get adequate medical treatment for her illnesses.”
A spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva described the temporary release as “important” and reiterated the call for Mohammadi’s “immediate and unconditional release,” along with other Iranian men and women detained for exercising their freedom of expression and human rights.
Nili explained on X (formerly Twitter) that the public prosecutor had suspended Mohammadi’s sentence for three weeks based on a doctor’s advice.
The Narges Mohammadi Foundation released a statement indicating that Mohammadi underwent surgery last month after doctors discovered a suspected cancerous bone lesion in her right leg. Despite her doctor’s recommendations and her legal team’s requests, she was returned to prison after only two days, while still unable to walk or sit.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been granted a 21-day medical suspension from prison in Iran, but human rights advocates say it’s woefully insufficient for her deteriorating health.
Mohammadi,a prominent human rights activist who has been imprisoned for her outspoken criticism of the Iranian government,has been suffering from severe back and leg pain,as well as the advancement of bedsores. Her foundation, the Center for Human Rights in Iran, has called the 21-day suspension “inadequate,” emphasizing that a minimum of three months is necessary for her recovery.
Unlike a medical furlough, which would have allowed the recovery period to count towards her prison sentence, this suspension means Mohammadi will be required to serve an additional 21 days after returning to prison.
Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 nobel Peace Prize for her tireless campaigning against the oppression of women in Iran. Her teenage children accepted the prize on her behalf in Oslo, reading a powerful speech smuggled out of prison.
“I write this message from behind the high, cold walls of a prison. The Iranian people, with perseverance, will overcome repression and authoritarianism,”
Mohammadi’s message resonated with the international community, highlighting the ongoing struggle for human rights in Iran.
Mohammadi’s activism has come at a high personal cost. In 2016, she was sentenced to 16 years in prison but was later released on bail. During her time outside prison,she launched a campaign to end solitary confinement and published two books and a documentary film exposing the realities of Iran’s prison system.
she was arrested again in 2021 and has been imprisoned ever since. This latest medical suspension offers a brief respite from the harsh conditions she faces, but her supporters fear it is indeed not nearly enough to address her health needs.
Mohammadi’s foundation has documented her repeated arrests and trials, highlighting the Iranian government’s relentless persecution of those who dare to speak out against injustice. They report that she has been arrested a total of 13 times, tried five times, and sentenced to more then 32 years imprisonment and 154 lashes.
## Iranian Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Granted Medical Furlough: An Expert Analysis
**World Today News:** narges Mohammadi, teh Iranian nobel Peace Prize laureate who has been imprisoned since 2021, was recently granted a three-week medical furlough following surgery to remove a tumor. While welcomed by her family and supporters, many see this release as insufficient, demanding her immediate and unconditional freedom. To delve deeper into the implications of this development, we spoke with Dr. Anahita Parsa, a leading expert on human rights and Iranian politics at Harvard University.
**World Today News:** Dr. Parsa, what are your initial thoughts on Narges Mohammadi’s temporary release?
**Dr. Parsa:** While it’s undoubtedly positive that Ms.Mohammadi is receiving crucial medical attention outside of prison walls, it’s critically important to remember this is a temporary measure, not a victory. This move can be viewed as a concession by Iranian authorities,possibly aimed at mitigating international pressure following her Nobel Prize win. However,it falls short of the permanent freedom she deserves.
**World Today News:** Ms. Mohammadi’s video message from the hospital, chanting “Woman, Life, Freedom,” has garnered widespread attention. How significant is this act of defiance from her?
**dr. Parsa:** This is incredibly powerful.despite her weakened physical state, ms. Mohammadi continues to be a beacon of resistance. Her message is a clear reminder that the spirit of the 2022-2023 protests remains alive, even within the confines of Evin prison. It reinforces the demand for basic changes within Iran.
**World Today News:** Ms. Mohammadi’s supporters are calling for her immediate and unconditional release. Do you believe this is a realistic expectation given the current political climate in Iran?
**Dr. Parsa:** It’s certainly a challenging situation. The Iranian regime faces immense internal pressure due to ongoing economic instability and social discontent. Allowing Ms.Mohammadi to return to her activism would undoubtedly fuel these flames. However, the international community’s continued condemnation of her detention, coupled with the Nobel Prize recognition, puts further pressure on the Iranian government.
**world Today News:** What role can the international community play in securing Ms. Mohammadi’s release?
**Dr. Parsa:** Continued diplomatic pressure is crucial. Condemnations must be backed by concrete actions. this includes targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for her detention, as well as increased support for Iranian human rights defenders. Ms. Mohammadi’s case is a litmus test for the international community’s commitment to upholding human rights,even in the face of challenging geopolitical realities.
**World Today News:** Dr. Parsa, thank you for sharing your insights on this important issue.
**Dr. Parsa:** It’s my pleasure. Ms. Mohammadi’s story is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights
in Iran. It’s a story that deserves continued attention and action from the global community.
