2023 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Narges Mohammadi Sentenced to Prison

Iranian human rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison, according to her lawyers and a group that supports her.

Mohammadi, 53, was on a week-long hunger strike that ended on Sunday February 8 2026, the Narges Foundation said in a statement.

The foundation noted that Mohammadi informed her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, during a phone call from prison that she had received her sentence on Saturday February 7 2026.

“She has been sentenced to six years in prison for gathering and collusion to commit crimes,” Nili told the AFP news agency.

In addition, she was handed a one-and-a-half-year prison term for propaganda activities.

Her lawyer added that she is to be exiled for two years to the city of Khosf in the eastern province of South Khorasan.

She also received a two-year ban on leaving the country, according to the report.

Verdict Not Final, Appeal Expected

Nili said the verdict was not final and could be appealed.

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He expressed hope that the activist could be temporarily “released on bail to receive treatment,” citing her ongoing health concerns.

Mohammadi began a hunger strike on February 2, 2026, to protest the conditions of her imprisonment and her inability to make phone calls to her lawyers and family members.

“Narges Mohammadi ended her hunger strike on February 8,2026 its 6th day, while reports indicate her physical condition is deeply alarming,” the Narges Foundation said.

The foundation added that Mohammadi informed her lawyer she had been transferred to the hospital three days earlier “due to her deteriorating health.”

“However, she was returned to the Ministry of Intelligence’s security detention centre in Mashhad before completing her treatment,” the foundation stated.

“Her continued detention is life-threatening and a violation of human rights laws.”

A Symbol of Women’s Rights and Freedom

Mohammadi is the second Iranian woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, after Shirin Ebadi, who received the award in 2003 for her efforts to promote democracy and human rights.

A prominent writer and journalist, Mohammadi serves as deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC), an organization dedicated to defending political prisoners and advocating for broader human rights reforms in Iran.

Beyond championing gender equality, she has campaigned strongly against the death penalty and corruption.

Her 20-year fight for women’s rights made her a symbol of freedom, the Nobel Committee said in 2023.

Arrest Following Memorial Remarks

Mohammadi was arrested on December 12, 2025, after denouncing the suspicious death of lawyer Khosrow Alikordi.

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At the time, prosecutor Hasan Hematifar told reporters that Mohammadi made provocative remarks during Alikordi’s memorial ceremony in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

He alleged that she encouraged attendees “to chant norm-breaking slogans” and “disturb the peace.”

Her latest sentencing adds to a series of legal battles she has faced over the years for her activism, further drawing international attention to her case and the broader human rights situation in Iran.

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