Imprisoned Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi's Hunger Strike Spotlights Iranian Injustice

Prominent human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has initiated a hunger strike while incarcerated in Iran, drawing widespread attention to the Iranian government's treatment of its political prisoners. Her hunger strike, which began after she was denied essential medical care, highlights the pressing issues faced by inmates in Iranian prisons.

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Prominent human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has initiated a hunger strike while incarcerated in Iran, drawing widespread attention to the Iranian government's treatment of its political prisoners. Her hunger strike, which began after she was denied essential medical care, highlights the pressing issues faced by inmates in Iranian prisons.

Mohammadi, who has been a target of the Iranian authorities for her years of activism, sent a message from Evin Prison claiming that her hunger strike had begun "several hours ago." Her poor health, which includes three vein blockages and high blood pressure, has generated severe worries. She had requested a transfer to a specialty hospital for heart and lung care but had been denied because she refused to wear a headscarf.

Mohammadi's family issued a statement saying that her hunger strike is a protest against the Iranian government's policy of ignoring medical care for sick detainees and the required headscarf requirement for women. They emphasized that she was just taking water, sugar, and salt and was refusing treatment, and they held the Islamic Republic responsible for any potential harm to her.

Nasrin Sotoudeh, another imprisoned activist and lawyer, is likewise in desperate need of medical attention, which she has not gotten. She was detained for attending the burial of Armita Geravand, a 17-year-old who died as a result of an alleged morality police attack for wearing an inappropriate hijab.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which bestowed the Peace Prize on Mohammadi, expressed grave worry about her health. They asked Iranian authorities to provide her and other female convicts with appropriate medical care, calling the requirement to wear hijab for medical care "morally unacceptable."

Despite international outrage, Iranian officials and state-controlled media failed to mention Mohammadi's hunger strike, as is customary in cases involving dissidents. The Iranian delegation to the UN did not reply to demands for comment.

Narges Mohammadi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her activism against women's persecution in Iran, as well as her promotion of human rights and freedom. Her arrest the previous November came after she attended a memorial for a victim of the violent 2019 demonstrations.

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In Iran, the obligatory hijab law remains a divisive topic, with women subject to severe dress code requirements. Recent events, such as the murder of Mahsa Amini, who was detained for wearing an inappropriate hijab, have sparked significant demonstrations, resulting in injuries and arrests. Despite international pressure to address these problems, the Iranian government has not made major modifications to existing legislation, instead imposing tougher punishments for hijab infractions.

Armita Geravand's death in late October, following a head injury in the Tehran Metro, fuelled the discussion about hijab laws, with protestors saying that she was beaten by female morality police officials.