Rights Groups Condemn Iran’s Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi

International Human Rights groups and global political leaders have denounced the re-arrest of nobel peace prize laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran, as concerns mount over her safety and whereabouts. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has formally urged Iranian authorities to immediately clarify her location and ensure her unconditional release.

Mohammadi, one of Iran’s most prominent human rights defenders, was detained on Friday after attending the funeral ceremony of respected lawyer Khosrow Alikordi in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

According to Chirine Ardakani, Mohammadi’s France-based lawyer, the activist was arrested shortly after publicly criticizing the circumstances surrounding Alikordi’s death during the burial service. Ardakani shared details of the arrest in a statement posted on X.

AUTHORITIES DEFEND ARREST AMID PUBLIC OUTCRY

Mashhad prosecutor Hasan Hematifar confirmed that Mohammadi was among 39 individuals detained following the funeral gathering. Speaking to local media on Saturday, Hematifar alleged that Mohammadi and Alikordi’s brother made “provocative and controversial remarks” that encouraged attendees to chant what authorities described as “norm-breaking slogans.”

According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the prosecutor claimed the gathering disrupted public order and security. Hematifar further stated that Mashhad’s police chief and another officer were stabbed while attempting to control the situation.

Human rights groups have strongly disputed the official narrative, describing the arrests as a disproportionate and politically motivated response to peaceful expression.

GLOBAL CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Norwegian Nobel Committee issued a firm statement urging Iranian authorities “to immediately clarify Mohammadi’s whereabouts, ensure her safety and physical integrity, and to release her without conditions.”

The European Union also joined the growing international pressure. In a statement released on Saturday, an EU spokesperson said, “The EU urges Iranian authorities to release Ms Mohammadi, taking into account her fragile health condition, and to free all those unjustly arrested for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression.”

VIDEOS SPARK FURTHER CONTROVERSY

Videos circulating on social media appear to show the 53-year-old activist standing atop a vehicle, holding a microphone and chanting “Long Live Iran” before a crowd—without wearing Iran’s mandatory hijab.

According to Ardakani, Mohammadi was physically assaulted prior to her arrest. Rights group Reporters Without Borders confirmed that four journalists and several other attendees were also detained during the funeral ceremony.

Alikordi, a well-known human rights lawyer, was found dead in his office on December 5. While Iranian authorities attributed his death to a heart attack, human rights organizations have demanded an independent and transparent investigation.

PROTEST CHANTS AND POLITICAL ACCUSATIONS

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that mourners chanted slogans including “We fight, we die, we accept no humiliation” and “Death to the dictator,” a reference to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Mohammadi, who won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her long-standing advocacy for women’s rights and freedom in Iran, has previously been sentenced to more than ten years in prison. In November 2021, she was convicted on charges including “propaganda against the state,” “acting against National Security,” and membership in “illegal organizations.”

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FROM NOBEL LAUREATES

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader and this year’s Nobel Peace Prize recipient, expressed solidarity with Mohammadi, drawing parallels between Iran’s repression and Venezuela’s political struggle.

“This week, the world celebrated the power of conscience in Oslo,” Machado wrote on X. “I told citizens of the world that our struggle is a long march toward freedom. It is not only Venezuelan—it is international, and it is Iranian.”

As global pressure intensifies, human rights groups warn that Mohammadi’s re-arrest reflects a broader crackdown on dissent in Iran and underscores the urgent need for international accountability.