Nobel Peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi given fresh 7.5 year jail term by Iran

Iranian authorities have sentenced Nobel Peace Prize laureate and prominent human rights activist Narges Mohammadi to more than seven additional years in prison following her ongoing hunger strike, according to her lawyer and supporters.

Mohammadi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili , confirmed the ruling on social media platform X, stating that she was sentenced to six years in prison for “gathering and collusion” and one and a half years for “propaganda against the state,” along with a two-year travel ban . Iranian officials have not yet publicly acknowledged the verdict.

Supporters said Mohammadi has been on a hunger strike since February 2 , protesting prison conditions and what she describes as the authorities’ continued harassment of political prisoners and denial of medical care.

Mohammadi, 52, is one of Iran’s most prominent human rights defenders and a leading campaigner against the death penalty and the compulsory hijab laws . She is the deputy head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, founded by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi.

She was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and for promoting human rights and freedom, particularly after the nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022.

This is not the first time Mohammadi has faced imprisonment. She has been repeatedly jailed over the past decade on charges related to national security and propaganda. Her previous convictions already total more than 12 years in prison , much of which she has served in Tehran’s Evin Prison.

Despite being behind bars, Narges Mohammadi has continued to communicate with the outside world through her lawyers, letters, and statements shared by supporters, criticizing Iran’s leadership and expressing solidarity with women-led protest movements . Her current hunger strike, which began on February 2, is ongoing in prison , prompting international concern for her health and renewed calls for her release.

Human rights groups have condemned her latest sentence as retaliation for her activism , while international organizations and Western governments have repeatedly urged Iran to release her unconditionally. The ruling is expected to further strain Iran’s relations with global human rights bodies, as pressure mounts over its treatment of political prisoners and women’s rights defenders .