The family of Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights activist and Nobel laureate, is sounding the alarm over her deteriorating health while imprisoned. The 54-year-old, who was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, has reportedly experienced significant weight loss and health complications, including a suspected heart attack. Mohammadi is currently serving her sentence in Zanjan Central Prison, where conditions are described as brutal and detrimental to her wellbeing.
Severe Health Concerns Amidst Imprisonment
According to her family, Mohammadi's health has sharply declined, with her weight plummeting by nearly 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in recent months. The Narges Mohammadi Foundation stated that she has been suffering from persistent chest pain and has lost consciousness multiple times. Her legal representatives are pushing for a medical suspension of her sentence, citing the urgent need for specialized treatment that is unavailable in Zanjan prison. Originally reported by The Guardian.
"For the past three days, her blood pressure has fluctuated dangerously, showing no response to medication," the foundation reported. Medical professionals familiar with her case have emphasized that her complex cardiac history necessitates care from her personal medical team, which cannot be provided in the prison environment. The lack of access to appropriate medical treatment is placing her life in immediate danger, according to her family.
Family's Desperation and Call for Action
Hamidreza Mohammadi, Narges' brother, expressed the family's desperation, stating, "The specialists have been clear: keeping her in that prison, under that immense stress and those brutal conditions, is like a death sentence." He highlighted the inability to adjust her medication safely due to the lack of her full medical team, emphasizing that the family is now not only fighting for her freedom but also for her survival.
Mohammadi's children have also voiced their profound concern over their mother's health. Kiana Rahmani, her daughter based in Paris, shared that her mother's body is "simply exhausted." She outlined her mother's ongoing health struggles, including high blood pressure and daily headaches. "Even now, in Zanjan prison, as she suffers through that pain, the authorities cruelly deny her the medical care she desperately needs," Kiana lamented.
A Legacy of Activism and Resilience
Narges Mohammadi has spent more than a decade in prison for her unwavering commitment to human rights, specifically advocating for women's rights and the abolition of the death penalty in Iran. Her most recent arrest occurred in December 2025 during a memorial service for a fellow activist, leading to her current sentence of seven and a half years for charges including collusion against state security and propaganda against the Iranian government.
Before her re-arrest, she had already endured over ten years behind bars, including 161 days in solitary confinement. The charges against her stem from her vocal support of the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, ignited by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. The Narges Mohammadi Foundation has called for collective action, stating, "A woman who has received 44 years of sentence in her lifetime, already spent more than 10 years of her life behind bars, 161 days in solitary confinement and faces at least 18 more years of imprisonment and 154 lashes for her peaceful activism, now needs our collective voice."
The Fight for Justice and Humanity
As the situation for Mohammadi grows increasingly dire, her family remains hopeful for her release. Kiana expressed her desire for the world to amplify her mother's plight, stating, "Today marks her 138th day in this current arrest, but as my mom always tells us, we must keep hope." She urges the international community to not remain silent and to advocate for the release of all political prisoners in Iran.
The family's call for action resonates within a broader context of human rights advocacy in Iran. Mohammadi's bravery reflects the resilience of countless others fighting against oppression. As her health continues to decline under harsh prison conditions, many are left wondering how long the Iranian government can ignore the urgent pleas for justice and medical care. The international community watches closely, as the stakes surrounding Narges Mohammadi's life grow ever higher.
Originally reported by The Guardian. View original.