Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi begins a new hunger strike from his prison cell in Iran on Nobel Day.
Now her children, who will receive the award in Oslo, fear they will never see their mother again.
– Mother will always live on in my heart, says daughter Kiana Rahmani to Reuters.
Narges Mohammadi, this year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has announced that she will begin a new hunger strike from her prison cell at Iran’s notorious Evin prison, AFP reports, citing a statement from her family.
The 51-year-old activist has been fighting for people’s rights in Iran for several years. Among other things, she has fought against the law that women must wear a veil and has been critical of the death penalty.
“Then maybe the world will hear more about it”
She is imprisoned in Tehran accused of several crimes, including spreading propaganda. The regime in Iran directed harsh criticism at Narges Mohammadi being awarded the peace prize and called the election “biased and political”.
Her hunger strike begins at the same time as the prize is to be awarded in Oslo on Nobel Day.
– She said “I will start my hunger strike the day I receive this award, then maybe the world will hear more about it”, says her husband Taghi Rahmani according to the news agency.
Meanwhile, Narges Mohammadi’s family is worried about her well-being in prison. Her twin children Kiana and Ali Rahmani, who are accepting the award on her behalf, say at a press conference in Oslo that they do not think they will see her again.
“I don’t think I’ll ever see her again”
– When it comes to meeting her again, I am personally very pessimistic. Maybe I’ll see her in 30 or 40 years, but I don’t think I’ll see her again, says daughter Kiara through a translator, according to the Reuters news agency.
– But it doesn’t matter because my mother will always live on in my heart and with my family.
Son Ali also expresses his concern about the situation.
– If we don’t meet her again, we will always be proud of her and continue our fight, he says.
Narges Mohammadi has previously gone on hunger strike in protest against the compulsion to wear the hijab in Iran and against the fact that she and other prisoners do not receive care in prison. According to the family, the peace prize winner has problems with both his heart and lungs.