Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Secretly Moved to New Prison in Iran
Iranian authorities have transferred Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi without any prior notification to a prison in northern Iran, sparking renewed and urgent concerns over her deteriorating health and harsh treatment while in detention. This covert move has amplified international alarm regarding her welfare and the conditions she faces behind bars.
Sudden and Secret Relocation
According to reports from the AFP news agency, Mohammadi's family confirmed that she was moved from a detention facility in Mashhad to Zanjan prison, a transfer executed without informing her legal representatives or relatives. The sudden relocation occurs against a backdrop of escalating global worry about allegations of physical abuse, worsening medical issues, and extended periods of solitary confinement she has endured.
Background of Arrest and Transfer
Mohammadi was originally arrested on December 12 in Mashhad after publicly criticizing Iran's clerical leadership during a funeral ceremony. She was initially held at a facility operated by the intelligence ministry. Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, who resides in Paris, stated that the transfer to Zanjan prison was deliberately intended to "exile and displace" her. Her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, revealed that she could only disclose details of the move days later during a brief and monitored phone call.
Escalating Health and Legal Issues
The transfer follows a series of distressing events:
- A nearly week-long hunger strike in protest of prison conditions
- Hospitalization due to severe health complications
- Reports of physical abuse during her arrest and subsequent interrogation
Her lawyer has alleged that she suffered severe blows to the head, resulting in symptoms like dizziness, double vision, and blurred eyesight. Visible bruises and marks from the assault were reportedly still apparent, underscoring the brutality she faced.
Recent Legal Sentence and Exile
In February 2026, Mohammadi was sentenced to more than seven years in prison, comprising:
- Six years for "gathering and collusion to commit crimes"
- One-and-a-half years for propaganda activities
- Two years of internal exile to Khosf in South Khorasan province
- A two-year ban on leaving the country
Her legal team has indicated that this verdict is not final and may be appealed. They have expressed hope that she could be temporarily released on bail to receive necessary medical treatment, given her precarious health.
Persistent Health Concerns
Health worries have plagued Mohammadi for years. In November 2024, she underwent a complex surgical procedure in Iran where part of a bone in her right leg was removed due to cancer fears. Despite the seriousness of this operation, she was reportedly returned to prison immediately afterward, without adequate recovery time.
Earlier this year, she initiated another hunger strike to protest restrictions on contacting her family and lawyers. Her foundation has described her physical condition as "deeply alarming," highlighting the ongoing neglect of her medical needs.
Profile of Narges Mohammadi
Born on April 21, 1972, in Zanjan, Mohammadi is one of Iran's most prominent human rights activists. She serves as deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, an organization co-founded by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi. Over more than two decades, she has campaigned tirelessly against:
- Iran's use of the death penalty
- Solitary confinement in prisons
- Mandatory hijab laws for women
- Restrictions on political freedoms
She became a leading voice during the unrest following the 2022 death of Jina Mahsa Amini, which triggered nationwide protests and drew global attention to Iran's human rights record.
Nobel Peace Prize Recognition
In October 2023, while imprisoned, Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all." The Norwegian Nobel Committee later stated it was "deeply appalled" by reports of mistreatment during her detention. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the award, reflecting the ongoing tensions between the government and international human rights advocates.
A Life of Repeated Imprisonment
Mohammadi has been repeatedly arrested and jailed over the past 25 years. In 2016, she was sentenced to 16 years in prison on charges related to her activism. Although released in 2020, she was re-arrested in 2021 and has since continued to report alleged abuse of detained women from inside prison. At 53, she has become both a symbol of resistance inside Iran and a globally recognized advocate for women's rights and human dignity, even as she remains incarcerated.
Her latest transfer to Zanjan prison, the city where she was born, underscores the ongoing and intense tensions between Iranian authorities and one of the country's most internationally visible critics. This move not only highlights the risks she faces but also the broader struggle for human rights in Iran, drawing continued scrutiny from the global community.
