Iran has sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi to more than seven additional years in prison following her initiation of a hunger strike, according to her supporters. This move is part of Tehran’s crackdown on dissent after widespread protests and numerous deaths at the hands of security forces.
The recent convictions against Mohammadi coincide with Iran’s efforts to engage in negotiations with the United States regarding its nuclear program to prevent a potential military strike by U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran’s top diplomat emphasized on Sunday that Tehran’s power lies in its ability to resist major powers, taking a strong stance following talks in Oman with the U.S.
Mohammadi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, relayed the sentence, stating that a Revolutionary Court in Mashhad issued it on Saturday. The court’s decisions are typically final without much room for defendants to challenge the charges.
Nili disclosed that Mohammadi received a six-year sentence for “gathering and collusion,” along with an additional one and a half years for propaganda, and a two-year travel ban. Furthermore, she was given a two-year internal exile to Khosf, located around 740 kilometers southeast of Tehran.
Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, expressed concern over the escalating repression of dissent and protests in Iran, citing Mohammadi’s case as an example.
Despite Mohammadi’s ongoing hunger strike since February 2, Iran has not officially acknowledged the sentence. She was arrested in December at a commemoration event for Khosrow Alikordi, a human rights advocate, who passed away in Mashhad. Mohammadi has been vocal in demanding justice for Alikordi and others.
Mohammadi, a prominent figure among Iranian activists, had previously been on furlough due to medical reasons in December 2024. Despite initial plans for a short release, her time out of prison extended, potentially influenced by international pressure to keep her free. She continued her activism, participating in public protests and media appearances, including demonstrations outside Evin prison in Tehran, where she had been detained.
Previously serving a 13-year and nine-month sentence for state security collusion and anti-government propaganda, Mohammadi supported nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, where women openly defied the government by removing their hijabs.
Mohammadi’s health has been a concern, with reports of heart attacks during her imprisonment and a bone lesion removal surgery in 2024. Her lawyer anticipates her temporary release on bail for medical treatment due to her health conditions.
In response to the recent demonstrations, Iranian authorities have signaled a tougher stance against dissent. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei warned of severe prison sentences for dissenting individuals, indicating a more repressive approach following the protests.
