(LibertySociety.com) – The Nobel Peace Prize was just awarded to an Iranian activist who is currently serving a 16-year sentence in an Iranian prison. Narges Mohammadi was awarded the prize in an October 6 announcement by the chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen. Mohammadi has spent three decades advocating for women’s rights and democracy in Iran and has continued her work while imprisoned. She has led massive protests against the Iranian government, which ultimately led to her arrest. She has been imprisoned since 2016 but has continued to lead the fight for an end to the tyrannical regime. Reiss-Andersen said the award was “a recognition of the very important work of a whole movement in Iran with its undisputed leader,” referring to Mohammadi.
Unlike other Nobel prizes which are awarded in Sweden and usually recommended by Nobel, the Peace Prize recipient is chosen by an independent panel that has been selected by the Norwegian Parliament. Mohammadi is the second Iranian to be awarded the Peace Prize. Shirin Ibada, who is the founder of the nonprofit Defenders of Human Rights Center, received her Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. Mohammadi serves as the vice president of the nonprofit.
Protests against the Iranian government were at their height in September 2022 after a woman was killed while in police custody. Mohammadi led the fight from prison, but the protests resulted in the deaths of 500 freedom-fighting Iranians. In addition, nearly 20,000 were arrested and thousands more suffered injuries.
Mohammadi provided a statement to the New York Times following the announcement of the award. She said that being recognized for her work on a global scale has increased her commitment to the cause and hopes that other Iranian activists will be more driven to succeed. “Victory is near,” Mohammadi proclaimed. The news of the award came just one day before Hamas terrorists, working with the Iranian government, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing and taking hostage hundreds of Israeli citizens. Several Americans were also killed in the attack.
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