Iran Arrests Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi, Several Activists at Memorial Gathering

Iranian authorities have arrested 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi alongside several other human rights activists during a memorial ceremony in Mashhad, the Narges Mohammadi Foundation said on Thursday.

The arrests occurred on Dec. 11 at an event marking the seventh day after the death of prominent human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi. The ceremony drew a large crowd, including well-known activists, former political prisoners and families of victims of state violence.

A post on Mohammadi’s X account said she was “violently arrested by security and law enforcement agents.” Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, who lives in France, confirmed the detention of Mohammadi, fellow activist Sepideh Gholian and others.

Videos shared on social media showed hundreds of attendees chanting anti-government slogans. In one clip, Mohammadi and Gholian are seen standing on a vehicle, leading chants of “Long live Iran!” Other footage captured clashes as security forces confronted participants.

Mashhad authorities later said several civil activists had been detained, describing the arrest orders as temporary and issued by the prosecutor’s office due to what they called “norm-breaking slogans.” Officials claimed those held were placed “under protection” for their own safety.

Several other prominent figures, including Nasrin Sotoudeh, Aliyeh Motallebzadeh and Hasti Amiri, were also reported to have attended the event.

Mohammadi, 53, has spent most of the past decade in prison and was serving a combined 13-year-9-month sentence before her medical release in December 2024. She was reportedly undergoing treatment at the time of her latest arrest.

Since her release, she had resumed human rights advocacy, meeting with civil society activists and participating in international discussions, including virtual conferences with foreign audiences.