Nobel Prize for Peace: Who is Narges Mohammadi, the Iranian woman awarded this year?

Source: The post is based on the article “Nobel Prize for Peace: Who is Narges Mohammadi, the Iranian woman awarded this year?” published in “Indian Express” on 7th October 2023

What is the News?

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi the 2023 Nobel Prize for Peace.

She has been awarded for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.

Who is Narges Mohammadi?

Narges Mohammadi is an Iranian human rights activist and scientist. 

She is the vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), headed by fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.

Arrest: In 2011, she was arrested for the first time and sentenced to many years of imprisonment for her efforts to assist incarcerated activists and their families.

– After securing a bail in 2013, she campaigned against the use of the death penalty.She was again arrested in 2015 and was sentenced to additional years

Writings: Over the years she has written many articles arguing for social reforms in Iran and published an essay collection, ‘The Reforms, the Strategy, and the Tactics’. 

– Her book ‘White Torture: Interviews with Iranian Women Prisoners’ also won an award for reportage at the International Film Festival and Human Rights’ Forum.

Recognition: She has received various awards over the years — from the Alexander Langer Award in 2009 to the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize and the Olof Palme Prize earlier in 2023.

 In 2022, she was featured in the BBC’s list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.

Significance: She is the 19th woman to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize and the second Iranian woman to win the award – after human rights activist Shirin Ebadi in 2003. 

– It is also the fifth time in the 122-year history of the awards that the peace prize has been given to someone who is in prison or under house arrest.