The Nobel Prize awarded to an imprisoned Iranian female activist is a reminder that the fight for women’s rights in Iran continues, even though events in the country have recently fallen from the headlines
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize recipient Narges Mohammadi will hardly be present when the Peace Prize is awarded in a solemn ceremony at Oslo City Hall in December.
Mohammadi is currently in Iran’s notorious Evin prison in Tehran, and there is no sign that he will be released.
– There are many activists imprisoned in Evin prison. I don’t know exactly what conditions Mohammad is being kept in. It is known that, among other things, the prisoners have been tortured and they have been denied hospital treatment, says a researcher and Iran expert Joonas Maristo.
51-year-old Mohammadi has been in prison several times. He has been convicted of, among other things, endangering state security and propaganda against the state.
The New York Times In his message from prison to the magazine, Mohammadi said that the Nobel Peace Prize only strengthens his determination. He also hopes that the award will give more strength to Iranians demanding change.
An important message for activists – the administration does not care
The Peace Prize is a message to both Iranian human rights activists and the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
– This is a really important issue for activists, who all the time pay a terrible price for their actions and courage. This does not change the conditions of the activists, but it is a sign that they are remembered, says a journalist and non-fiction writer who has been to Iran a dozen times Liisa Liimatainen.
– I believe that the administration cares about this news. This does not affect the hard core of the system in any way, says Liimatainen.
According to Liimatainen, Iran’s current administration is convinced that tough measures are needed to save the system, and the country shows no signs of a desire for reform or a response.
Mohammadi is a veteran of the human rights movement
For years, Mohammadi has fought against the death penalty and for women’s rights.
– Narges Mohammadi is one of the stalwarts of the Iranian human rights movement, and he works for a human rights organization led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadisays an Iran expert Joonas Maristo.
Ebadi currently lives in exile in London. Mohammadi is in prison.
But that hasn’t stopped her activism. In messages sent from prison, Mohammadi has expressed his support for the new protests that broke out last year. They started when a young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died at the hands of the moral police.
Amini had been arrested because she was accused of violating the strict dress code. According to the allegations, she did not cover her hair properly.
Demonstrations have been held against Iran’s dress code for women.
– Mohammad’s awarding also has a minority dimension, because he comes from Kurdish areas, i.e. the same areas as Mahsa Amini, says Joonas Maristo.
Women at the forefront of the human rights movement
Narges Mohammadi is in those delivered to the public described the sexual and other violence in Evin prison in the messages.
There is a tail also punished for continuing his activism in prison. Mohammadi and other female activists are at the heart of Iran’s human rights movement.
– Recently, the women’s movement has shown extremely great courage and readiness to question the system. The women’s movement has attracted the rest of society, especially young people, both women and men, says Liisa Liimatainen.
According to Joonas Maristo, there are extensive human rights problems in Iran that affect all citizens. The current administration’s selection of methods includes, for example, mass arrests, torture and executions.
– Of course, the position of women is really bad. At the same time, there are also many strong women in Iran who fight for their rights, says Maristo.
What thoughts did the story evoke in you? You can discuss the topic until Saturday evening at 11 p.m.