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PoliticsIran

Iran arrests Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi

Rana Taha with AFP, AP
December 12, 2025

Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi's supporters said she was "violently" arrested during the memorial of a recently deceased human rights lawyer. The human rights activist was released from prison last December.

Narges Mohammadi shouts as she is released from prison
Narges Mohammadi has been in and out of jail for nearly 20 years due to her tireless advocacy in defiance of the Islamic Republic's regime [FILE: Dec 5, 2024]Image: SalamPix/ABACA/picture alliance

Iranian security forces "violently" arrested Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi from a memorial service, her supporters said on Friday.

Mohammadi was arrested at the memorial service of Khosrow Alikordi, a human rights lawyer recently found dead in disputed circumstances.

Her Paris-based husband, Taghi Rahmani, said on X that the arrest took place in the city of Mashhad.

The governor in Mashhad later confirmed the detention, according to the Khorasan online portal. He spoke of "temporary detentions" ordered by the Public Prosecutor's Office. The reason provided was slogans that violated social order.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said Mohammadi was arrested in a "brutal" manner and must be immediately released.

What do we know about Mohammadi's arrest?

The Narges Foundation announced Mohammadi's arrest on X.

"The Narges Foundation has received credible information that Narges Mohammadi was violently detained by security and police forces during the seventh-day memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi an hour ago," the post read.

The foundation added that other human rights activists were also arrested, citing "unconfirmed reports," including Sepideh Qolian.

"The Narges Foundation calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained individuals who were attending a memorial ceremony to pay their respects and demonstrate solidarity," a statement read. "Their arrest constitutes a serious violation of fundamental freedoms."

The Norwegian Nobel Committee also condemned Mohammadi's arrest.

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee is deeply concerned by today's brutal arrest of Narges Mohammadi alongside a number of other activists," the committee said in a statement, describing the Iranian activist as "a staunch defender of human rights, freedom of expression and democratic participation in Iran."

Who is Narges Mohammadi?

Narges Mohammadi, who has campaigned for human rights in Iran for decades, has been in and out of jail for nearly 20 years due to her tireless advocacy in defiance of the Islamic Republic's regime.

In 2023, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while in prison, serving a 13-year and nine-month sentence on charges of collusion against state security and propaganda against Iran's government.

She received a three-week furlough in December 2024 over medical concerns but was able to remain outside prison since.

Despite supporters warning for months that Mohammadi could end up back in prison, she maintained her activism, joining public protests, including outside Tehran's notorious Evin prison, where she had been kept.

Unbreakable - My fight for freedom in Iran

28:36

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It was unclear whether Mohammadi's Friday arrest would lead her back to prison to continue serving her sentence.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

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