Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize 2023 on Friday, October 6. The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided to award her the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize "for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all".

According to a press release by the Committee, the Iranian regime has arrested Narges Mohammadi 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. Mohammadi is still in prison.

Narges Mohammadi — 'A woman, a human rights advocate, and a freedom fighter'

Mohammadi fights for women against systematic discrimination and oppression. The Iranian regime has arrested Narges Mohammadi 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. Mohammadi is still in prison.

As a young physics student, Mohammadi distinguished herself as an advocate for equality and women’s rights. "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," the press release read.

After her release on bail, this year’s peace laureate Mohammadi immersed herself in a campaign against use of the death penalty. Her activism against the death penalty led to her re-arrest in 2015, and to a sentence of additional years behind walls.

In September 2022, Mahsa Jina Amini's death in the custody of the Iranian morality police triggered the largest political demonstrations against Iran’s theocratic regime since it came to power in 1979. These protests became known to the political prisoners held inside the Evin prison in Tehran. It was reported that from captivity, the laureate helped to ensure that the protests have not ebbed out.

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature, Chemistry, Physics, and Physiology or medicine have already been announced. This year’s Nobel Prize announcements is taking place between October 2 and 9. All of the announcements will be streamed live at nobelprize.org.

Narges Mohammadi was among 351 people and groups nominated for the prestigious prize given for the “promotion of peace”, according to AlJazeera. The report said this is the second-highest number of candidates ever – except in 2016, when 376 were nominated. Of those nominated, 259 were individuals and 92 were organisations. It is the eighth straight year with more than 300 nominees.

According to the Time Magazine, the top contenders for the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian opposition stalwart Alexei Navalny, China activist Ilham Tohti, exiled Belarusian opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and activist and Mahbouba Seraj.

From 1901 to 2022, the Peace Prize has been awarded 103 times to 140 people, the Times magazine reported. Last year, the peace prize was awarded to Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski, and two human rights organizations: the Russian group Memorial and Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties.

The prizes are handed out at awards ceremonies in December in Oslo and Stockholm. They carry a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (about USD 1 million). Winners also receive an 18-carat gold medal and diploma when they collect their Nobel Prizes at the award ceremonies in December.

First Published:Oct 6, 2023 2:34 PM IST