Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize winner detained in Iran, is “between life and death” after his hospitalization

The human rights activist was hospitalized this weekend after suffering a heart attack. Her family fears she will die if she does not receive “adequate medical care.”

Iranian Narges Mohammadi, winner of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize detained in Iran since December, finds herself “between life and death” after her emergency hospitalization last weekend, according to her lawyer.

“We have never been so afraid for Narges’ life, she risks leaving us at any moment,” said Chirinne Ardakani on Tuesday during a press briefing of her support committee in Paris. “We don’t just fight for our freedom, we fight to keep our hearts beating,” she added.

“Her family says there has been a marked deterioration in her health in recent days – and fear that she could die if she does not receive adequate medical care,” the Narges Foundation said.

While Narges Mohammadi’s two children as well as her husband live in Paris, Me Chirinne Ardakani urged Emmanuel Macron to adopt a firmer line in this matter. “We expect a strong position from the president. I don’t think it’s excessive” to make such a request, the lawyer said. The human rights activist lost 20 kg in prison, has difficulty expressing herself and is currently “unrecognizable” compared to her state before her last arrest, according to her lawyer.

The activist’s supporters want her to be transferred to Tehran to be treated by her personal medical team.

Sentenced to six years in prison in February

The 54-year-old activist was hospitalized on May 2 after a heart attack in Zanjan prison in the northwest of the country where she has been detained since February. According to her lawyer Mostafa Nili, Narges Mohammadi “fainted after a sudden drop in her blood pressure”. After her initial refusal of a transfer for fear of inadequate treatment, she had to be hospitalized after losing consciousness again, with the priority being “the management of her neurological condition”.

Narges Mohammadi was arrested on December 12 in Mashhad after criticizing Iranian religious authorities during a funeral ceremony. In February, she was sentenced to an additional six years in prison for endangering national security and a year and a half in prison for propaganda against Iran’s Islamic system. Deprived of contact with her family, the Iranian woman began a hunger strike.

Over the past 25 years, Narges Mohammadi has been repeatedly imprisoned for her commitment against the death penalty and the strict dress code imposed on Iranian women.