Narges Mohammadi fought against Hijab. Opposes orthodox or religious traditions. Demand to break the shackles imposed on women. Arrested 13 times and went to jail five times. Still in jail after a court imposed 31-year prison sentence. Eight years have passed since she saw her children, but she continues her struggle even in jail. Her struggle for rights which started during her school days has now brought the world’s prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in to her hands. She is the imprisoned activist Narges Mohammadi (51), who won Nobel Peace Prize for 2023. This prize was awarded for fighting against the oppression of women in Iran. Award comes after a wave of protests that swept Iran after the death in custody a year ago of a young Iranian Kurd, Mahsa Amini, arrested for violating Iran’s strict dress rules for women.
Narges Mohammadi, a journalist and activist, has spent much of the past two decades in and out of jail for her campaign against the mandatory hijab for women and the death penalty. Presently she is the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre founded by Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, herself a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2003. Narges is the 19th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and the second Iranian woman, after human rights activist Ebadi won the award in 2003.
In a statement to media Narges said the “global support and recognition of my human rights advocacy makes me more resolved, more responsible, more passionate and more hopeful.”
“Hijab ke Khilaf” - Iranian women fight for rights:
Narges Mohammadi was behind bars for the recent nationwide protests over the death of 22-year-old Amini, who died after she was detained by the country’s morality police. That sparked one of the most-intense challenges ever to Iran’s theocracy since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. More than 500 people were killed in a heavy security crackdown while over 22,000 others were arrested.
In September-2023, Iran’s conservative-dominated parliament announced heavier penalties for women who refuse to wear it. As per international reports, Iran is ranked 143rd out of 146 countries on the World Economic Forum’s gender equality ranking. Iranian authorities cracked down harshly on last year’s “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising. A total of 551 protesters, including 68 children and 49 women, were killed by security forces, according to Iran Human Rights, and thousands of others were arrested. The movement has since continued in other forms.
In what would have been unthinkable a year ago, women now go out in public without the headscarf, in particular in Tehran and other big cities, despite the risks. Wearing the hijab is one of the pillars of the Islamic Republic. Authorities have stepped up controls, using surveillance cameras among other things, and have arrested actresses who post pictures of themselves on social media without the hijab.
From the Young Age she wants to Change the World:
Narges Mohammadi was born on April 21, 1972, in Zanjan, Iran. She grew up in Iran and became actively involved in social and political activism from a young age. She has been involved in various campaigns and initiatives, including her work as the Vice President of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), which was founded by Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi. She has campaigned against the use of the death penalty, child executions, and the mistreatment of political prisoners.
Narges has faced persecution and imprisonment for her activism. She has been arrested and detained multiple times due to her outspoken advocacy for human rights. Her imprisonment has drawn international attention and calls for her release from human rights organizations and governments. She has also faced health issues during her imprisonment, including serious medical conditions. Her activism and her courage in the face of adversity have earned her international recognition and awards. In 2011, she was awarded the Per Anger Prize for her human rights work.
Women, Who Won Noble Peace Prize:
Numerous women have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their outstanding contributions to peace and human rights over the years. These women have made significant contributions to peace, human rights, and social justice and have been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts. Narges Mohammadi is a 19th women and second women from Iran.
Bertha Felicie Sophie von Suttner (1905): An Austrian pacifist was the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in promoting peace and disarmament.
Jane Addams (1931): An American social worker and suffragist, was awarded the prize for her efforts in advancing the peace movement and advocating for social reform.
Emily Greene Balch (1946): An American economist, sociologist, and pacifist, received the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in promoting peace and international cooperation.
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin (1964): A British chemist was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to the field of X-ray crystallography and her advocacy for disarmament.
Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan (1976): These two Northern Irish women were awarded the prize for their efforts to promote peace during the Troubles in Northern Ireland through the organization Women for Peace.
Mother Teresa (1979): Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun from Albania, received the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work in serving the poor and sick in Calcutta, India.
Alva Myrdal (1982): A Swedish diplomat and disarmament advocate, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to international disarmament efforts.
Aung San Suu Kyi (1991): A Burmese political leader and pro-democracy activist, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her nonviolent struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar.
Rigoberta Menchú Tum (1992): A Guatemalan K'iche' Maya woman, received the prize for her work in promoting indigenous rights and social justice.
Jody Williams (1997): An American activist was awarded the prize for her work in banning landmines through the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).
Shirin Ebadi (2003): An Iranian lawyer and human rights advocate, received the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote human rights, especially women's and children's rights, in Iran.
Wangari Maathai (2004): A Kenyan environmentalist and political activist, was awarded the prize for her contributions to sustainable development and environmental conservation.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2011): The President of Liberia received the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace, reconciliation, and gender equality in Liberia.
Malala Yousafzai (2014): A Pakistani education activist was awarded the prize for her advocacy for girls' education and her courageous stand against the suppression of children and young people.
Nadia Murad (2018): A Yazidi human rights activist from Iraq was jointly awarded the prize for her efforts to combat sexual violence as a weapon of war.
Narges Mohammadi (2023): A Iranian journalist and activist, jailed for her campaign against the mandatory hijab for women and the death penalty.
