The globally renowned Royal Swedish Academy has recently announced the recipient of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2023. The award was bestowed upon Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi for her relentless fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her advocacy for human rights and freedom for all citizens. This recognition acknowledges her years-long efforts in criticizing arbitrary government policies and protecting the elementary rights of individuals.
In 2022, this prestigious award was given to human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, the Russian human rights organization Memorial, and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties. The recipients for the 2023 Nobel Prizes in Literature, Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine have also been disclosed by the academy.
Introducing Narges Mohammadi: Advocate for Human Rights and Freedom
The 2023 Nobel Peace laureate, Narges Mohammadi, is a woman of immense courage and determination who stands firmly against oppression and advocates for human rights and freedom. She embodies the spirit of hundreds of thousands of people opposing the theocratic regime’s discriminatory and oppressive measures against women. Her feats are encapsulated in the protesters’ motto – “Woman – Life – Freedom”.
Mohammadi’s active opposition to the death penalty in a country reporting the highest state executions marks her distinct contributions towards human rights. She emerged as a potent advocate of women’s rights since her college days, leading to her arrest in 2011 for assisting imprisoned activists and their families.
Narges Mohammadi’s Fight Against Injustice and Cruelty
While incarcerated, Mohammadi bravely resisted the regime’s systemic use of torture and sexual violence against political prisoners, particularly women in Iranian prisons. During the Mahsa Amini Protests (the Iranian Hijab Movement), she manifested her support for the protesters, even from prison, by arranging solidarity actions among her fellow prisoners.
Mohammadi’s remarkable contributions have been recognized globally, and she has received numerous accolades. She was awarded the Alexander Langer Award in 2009, the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, and the Olof Palme Prize in 2023. Her book ‘White Torture: Interviews with Iranian Women Prisoners’ also gained recognition, earning an award for reportage at the International Film Festival and Human Rights’ Forum.
Understanding the Iranian Hijab Movement
In Iran, women are strictly mandated to wear hijabs or headscarves with their regular clothing. Anyone found violating this rule faces severe consequences like arrest, warnings, or punishment. Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, was arrested for breaching the Iranian dress code, leading to her untimely death and sparking widespread outrage.
The wrongful arrest and subsequent death of Mahsa Amini ignited massive protests among Iranian women demanding increased freedom. This movement has transcended national boundaries and is currently witnessing global participation. Major western cities such as Auckland, London, Melbourne, New York, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Stockholm, Sydney, and Zurich have all seen demonstrations supporting the cause with banners displaying “Women, life, liberty.”