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Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi, imprisoned in Tehran, warned of the consequences of human rights violations in her country and the economic problems facing its citizens, stressing that the Iranian people “have been struggling for years to survive.”

This came in a message to a ceremony that she missed to hand over the Nobel Peace Prize, which she received in October, in honor of “her battle against the oppression of women in Iran, and her struggle to promote human rights and freedom for all.” In a speech delivered on her behalf by her son Ali and daughter Kiana, Mohammadi denounced her country’s “tyrannical, religious and anti-women” regime, and said that “the Iranian people worked hard to achieve freedom and democracy,” and she continued: “The world is witnessing how the rulers confront the people’s demands for oppression, execution, killing, and imprisonment,” and she said. “The Islamic Republic system is at the lowest level of popular legitimacy.”

In her written letter, “Behind the High and Cold Prison Walls,” Mohammadi said, “I am a woman from the Middle East, from a region that, although it is the heir to a rich civilization, is currently caught in the trap of war and prey to the flames of terrorism and extremism.” She added, “I am a proud Iranian and I am honored to contribute to This civilization, which today is a victim of the oppression of a tyrannical and anti-women religious regime,” she urged the international community to do more for human rights. In her absence, her chair was left vacant in a symbolic gesture, and her picture was placed above it.

Mohammadi called on international organizations to support civil society in Iran, stressing that “the solutions of Western countries were not sufficient,” and warned of the repercussions and repercussions of human rights violations that extend beyond Iranian borders, including the phenomenon of immigration, according to excerpts published by the BBC Persian channel.

Mohammadi touched on the living difficulties that Iranians suffer from, and said, “The Iranian government in the economic field provided great privileges to those close to it, which pushed society into poverty,” and added: “The consequences of this caused problems for people’s lives.”

She stressed, “For years, our issue has been to survive and live. We are struggling to survive,” she said. “The government has not left any room outside its scope.” At the conclusion of reading the statement, Mohammadi’s sons, Ali and Kayana, chanted the slogan “Women, Freedom, Freedom,” the slogan of the recent protests in Iran.

Mohammadi is an activist known for her struggle to improve human rights conditions, including the rights of prisoners, the death penalty, and women’s rights. She has been in prison in Tehran since November 2021, which prevented her from receiving the prestigious award in person.

Her family announced, on Saturday, that Mohammadi intends to start a new hunger strike. Her younger brother, Hamid Reza Mohammadi, said in a brief statement: “She is not with us today. She is in prison and will go on a hunger strike in solidarity with a religious minority,” referring to Baha’is who complain of being subjected to discrimination and persecution in Iran.

Her husband, Taqi Rahmani, explained that the move aims to show solidarity with the Baha’i minority, two of whose prominent figures have also begun a hunger strike.

Narges Mohammadi was quoted as saying: “I will begin my hunger strike on the day I receive the award, and perhaps the world will hear more about it.”

On November 10, Mohammadi put an end to a hunger strike that she began on November 6, aiming to allow her to move to the hospital to receive medical care without wearing the hijab.

After being arrested for the first time 22 years ago, Mohammadi has spent most of the past two decades in and out of prison due to her human rights activism. She was one of the most prominent faces supporting the protests that Iran witnessed beginning in September 2022, after the death of Mahsa Amini following her arrest by the morality police in Tehran on the grounds of wearing a bad hijab.

These protest movements were led by some women, who raised the slogan “Women, Life, Freedom,” during which they removed the veil and burned it.

“Priceless” freedoms

Narges Mohammadi’s two sons have lived in France since 2015, and have not seen their mother for nearly 9 years. While Ali believes he will be able to see her again, Kiana doubts that will happen.

Kiana said during a press conference for the family, on Saturday, “The issue of (women, life, freedom) and freedom in general, and democracy is worth sacrificing and giving one’s life for; Because in the end, these three things are priceless.” She added: “With regard to seeing her alive again one day, I personally am very pessimistic (…) I may see her again after 30 or 40 years, or I may not see her, but that does not matter; Because my mother will always remain in my heart and with my family.”

As for Ali, he stressed that he is “very optimistic,” even though it is unlikely that this will happen “for two, five, or 10 years.” He added: “I believe that we will win,” before repeating his mother’s saying: “Victory is not easy, but it is certain.”

In the history of the Nobel Prize, which extends for more than a century, Mohammadi is the fifth laureate to receive the Peace Prize while in detention, after the German Karl von Ossietzky, the Burmese Aung San Suu Kyi, the Chinese Liu Xiaobo, and the Belarusian Alice Belyatsky. Nobel Prize Committee Chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said, “It is possible to compare Narges Mohammadi’s struggle (…) with the struggle of Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela (who all won the Nobel Prize), and their struggle continued for more than 30 years before the end of the apartheid regime in South Africa. She added, “Women in Iran are struggling “They have been against discrimination for more than 30 years. They dream of a brighter future that will eventually come true.”

“Preventing the delivery of sound”

The Mohammadi family conference came on the day that the Iranian authorities prevented Amini’s family members from leaving the country to receive the Sakharov Prize awarded by the European Parliament to the young woman, according to what their lawyer in France reported.

Shirin Ardakani told Agence France-Presse that Amini’s parents and her brother “were prevented from boarding the plane that was scheduled to take them to France to receive the Sakharov Prize… at midnight on Saturday, despite having an entry visa.”

Ardakani added: “Their passports were confiscated.” She saw that the Iranian authorities are striving during this period “to prevent the families of the victims from making their voices heard to the international community,” especially since the awarding of the Sakharov Prize, on Tuesday, comes two days after the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Mizzola, who received this award, called on “the Iranian regime to reverse its decision that prevents Mahsa Amini’s mother, father, and brother from traveling.” She added on the “X” platform, “Their place next Tuesday is in Strasbourg to receive the Sakharov Prize, with the brave women of Iran.”

When announcing the winner of the Sakharov Prize, Mitsola said that “the brutal murder of… Amini marked a turning point,” and launched “a movement led by women who entered history, and the slogan (Women, Life, Freedom) became a slogan behind which all those who defend equality, dignity, and freedom were united.” in Iran”.

Hundreds were killed during the protests that followed Amini’s death, including dozens of members of the security forces, while the authorities arrested thousands of people. Protests subsided almost completely in Iran beginning in late 2022.