Narges Mohammadi and the Struggle for Equality

Meet Narges Mohammadi an Iranian activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023. For twenty years, she has advocated for womens rights at the cost of her own freedom. She has also spoken out against the regime regarding their use of the death penalty and torture. These honorable albeit dangerous pursuits have resulted in her being arrested "13 times and sentenced to 31 years in prison and 154 lashes" (The Nobel Prize). At the time she received the prize, Narges was incarcerated at Evin Prison, Iran's most notorious jail.

Mohammadi was inspired by Shirin Ebadi -- a female human rights activist, former judge, and lawyer. Ebadi was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to preserve equality in Iran. She founded the Defenders of Human Rights Center which Narges later joined.

Mohammadi was recently released from prison for a surgery and took the opporunity to speak with CNN. She had a bone lesion that was potentially cancerous, but her release was highly unexpected considering she had been "beaten up very badly" by guards before and denied healthcare. When speaking with reporters, she said, "Not even the prison walls and all these convictions can ever stop me." Her confidence was well articulated when she explained that, "Whether I am inside Evin or outside Evin, my goal is very clear, and until we achieve democracy, we are not going to stop. We want freedom and we want equality."

She is currently compiling her memoirs in hope of spreading activism in Iran. Her optimism is unfallable even while imprisoned and she said, "The walls of Evin Prison have cracked because of the chants of these women."

Her story is honored in Marjane Satrapi's book, Woman, Life, Freedom.