The silence in Mashhad was shattered Friday as Iranian security forces violently arrested Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, during a memorial service. Mohammadi, a beacon of defiance in a nation gripped by repression, was taken into custody alongside at least eight other activists.
The memorial honored Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer found dead in his office just last week. Alikordi had dedicated his life to defending those caught in the regime’s crackdown on dissent, including protestors from the 2022 uprising sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. His death itself is shrouded in suspicion, with many fearing foul play.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the arrest. Mohammadi was reportedly beaten, her hair seized, and dragged away from the gathering. This brutal act underscores the regime’s relentless campaign to silence any voice challenging its authority.
Among those detained was Sepideh Gholian, a fellow activist who previously shared a prison cell with Mohammadi in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. The arrests signal a widening net cast by the authorities, targeting not just Mohammadi but the entire network of human rights defenders in Iran.
News of the arrest reached Mohammadi’s husband, Taghi Rahmani, in Paris, who confirmed the detention. Rights groups report the activists have been transported to an unknown location, their fate uncertain. The Hengaw rights group described the arrests as “violent.”
Footage circulated online showed Mohammadi, remarkably refusing to adhere to the mandatory headscarf, attending the memorial. She stood with supporters, their voices rising in defiant chants of “Long live Iran” and “Death to the dictator.” It was a powerful display of resistance, moments before it was brutally suppressed.
Mohammadi, 53, has spent much of the last decade imprisoned for her unwavering commitment to human rights. Her twins, now adults, received her Nobel Prize in Oslo, a poignant reminder of the years stolen from her family. She hasn’t seen her children in eleven years.
Despite her ongoing imprisonment and recent health complications – including lung and heart issues requiring operations – Mohammadi remains unbroken. Even during a temporary release granted on medical grounds, she continued to challenge the regime, speaking out against injustice and inspiring hope.
Her brother, Hamid Mohammadi, living in exile in Oslo, expressed his deep concern not for her arrest – she’s faced this before – but for her deteriorating health. He fears the renewed pressure will exacerbate her existing conditions, pushing her to the brink.
Mohammadi’s fight extends beyond individual cases; she has consistently predicted the eventual collapse of the clerical system that has ruled Iran since 1979. Her unwavering belief in the power of the Iranian people resonates deeply, even as the regime attempts to silence her.
The 2022 protests, ignited by Mahsa Amini’s death, shook the foundations of the Islamic Republic. Though brutally suppressed, the movement revealed a deep-seated yearning for freedom and a rejection of decades of oppression. Mohammadi’s voice amplified that yearning, making her a target of the state.
In a recent message to her twins on their birthday, Mohammadi declared that while authorities may attempt to control their lives, they themselves live in fear of the inevitable uprising. Her words are a testament to her enduring spirit and a chilling indictment of a regime built on fear.
