International human rights organizations have expressed strong condemnation following the reported rearrest of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran. The Nobel Committee has called on Iranian authorities to urgently clarify her situation and ensure her safety.
According to Chirine Ardakani, Mohammadi’s French lawyer, the arrest occurred on Friday during a memorial ceremony for human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi in the northeastern city of Mashhad. Mohammadi reportedly spoke out against Alikordi’s suspicious death, which has raised significant concerns among human rights advocates. Iranian officials have yet to confirm her arrest, but local authorities have indicated that several participants at the ceremony were detained.
In a statement to state television, Mashhad’s city governor Hasan Hosseini confirmed that prosecutors ordered the temporary detention of individuals at the memorial. While he did not specifically mention Mohammadi, the Norwegian Nobel Committee urged the Iranian government to “immediately clarify Mohammadi’s whereabouts, ensure her safety and integrity, and to release her without conditions.”
A video circulating on social media appears to show Mohammadi, aged 53, standing on a car without her mandatory veil, chanting “Long Live Iran” in front of a crowd. Reports indicate she was physically assaulted prior to her arrest, and her current location remains unknown.
The organization Reporters Without Borders has reported that at least four journalists, along with other attendees, were detained during the memorial for Alikordi, who was found dead in his office on December 5, 2023. Authorities attributed his death to a heart attack, but rights groups have called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding it.
During the memorial, attendees reportedly chanted slogans deemed “norm-breaking” by authorities, including “Death to the dictator,” a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The crowd also expressed sentiments such as “We fight, we die, we accept no humiliation.”
Mohammadi, who received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, has spent over ten years in prison for various charges, including “propaganda against the state” and “acting against national security.” She had been on furlough since December 2024 for health reasons.
The ongoing situation surrounding Mohammadi has drawn international attention, highlighting the precarious state of human rights in Iran. As the world watches, the call for transparency and justice continues to grow louder, underscoring the challenges faced by activists in the country.
