Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was arrested in Iran, according to her supporters who shared the news on Friday.
The foundation named after her stated that she was taken into custody at a memorial for a human rights lawyer who was recently found dead under suspicious conditions in Mashhad, located around 420 miles northeast of Tehran.
While local officials confirmed an arrest occurred, they did not specify it was Mohammadi, aged 53.
Details remain murky on whether she will be sent back to prison immediately, where her medical release is scheduled for December 2024.
This arrest is part of a larger crackdown on intellectuals and activists in Iran, a nation grappling with sanctions, economic struggles, and rising tensions with Israel.
Her situation may add more pressure from Western nations, especially as Iran has expressed interest in restarting talks with the U.S. regarding its nuclear ambitions, which have yet to materialize.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed “deep concern” regarding Mohammadi’s arrest.
They issued a statement urging Iranian authorities to disclose her whereabouts, ensure her safety and innocence, and release her without conditions.
Arrest at a Memorial Service
Supporters reported that she was “violently detained” by security forces and police during the memorial service for attorney Khosrow Alikordi, a 46-year-old human rights advocate based in Mashhad.
The Narges Foundation called for the unconditional release of all who attended the memorial, describing their arrests as grave violations of fundamental freedoms.
Alikordi was found dead in his office earlier this month, with state officials attributing his death to a heart attack. However, suspicions arose due to increased security measures in the wake of his death. More than 80 lawyers have signed a statement demanding further clarity.
“Today’s events mark the Islamic Republic’s latest attack on basic human rights,” remarked Hadi Ghami, executive director of the Iranian Center for Human Rights based in New York.
“The fact that citizens can’t mourn without fear of violence underscores the regime’s fear of accountability. It also highlights the remarkable bravery of Iranians who refuse to surrender their dignity.”
Video purportedly from the memorial showed Mohammadi addressing the crowd without a hijab, chanting the name of Majdreza Rahnawald, a man publicly executed in 2022.
Additional footage revealed her surrounded by many supporters, also without a hijab.
Mashhad’s Governor Hassan Hosseini stated that prosecutors had instructed security forces to temporarily detain several participants for chanting what he termed “norm-breaking” slogans at the event, as reported by Iranian state television.
Hosseini characterized the arrests as a precautionary measure, aimed at protecting attendees but did not comment on claims that force was used during these detentions.
Other anti-government protests were audible in the video of the gathering.
Ongoing Health Concerns
Supporters have cautioned that Mohammadi, having been on medical furlough since December 2024, is at risk of being sent back to prison.
What was supposed to be a three-week furlough was extended likely due to external pressure from activists and Western governments for her release.
She had been in the public eye during the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June.
Mohammadi remained involved in protests and made appearances in international media, including demonstrations outside Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison where she was formerly held.
Serving a sentence of nearly 14 years for charges related to conspiracy against national security and anti-government propaganda, she has been active in the protests ignited by Mahsa Amini’s death in 2022, where women openly defy the hijab mandate.
During her imprisonment, Mohammadi suffered from multiple heart attacks and underwent emergency surgery in 2022. Recently, her lawyer indicated that doctors discovered a bone lesion that initially raised concerns about cancer but was later surgically addressed.
In late February 2025, the Free Narges Coalition reported that her doctors recommended a six-month extension of her medical leave for further monitoring and physical therapy, expressing worry that her health could deteriorate significantly if she were to return to prison.
Mohammadi, an engineer by profession, has faced jail time on multiple occasions, with a total of over 30 years’ worth of sentences stemming from her activism.
Her most recent incarceration began in 2021 after she participated in a memorial for victims of nationwide protests.
