Narges Mohammadi has been named as this year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her “fight against the oppression of women” and for protecting human rights and freedom for all in Iran.
The judging committee made the announcement on Friday, sharing the news first on social media.
Mohammadi is currently in prison in Iran.
“Her brave struggle has come at tremendous personal cost,” the committee spokesperson said on naming Mohammadi as the winner. Mohammadi has been arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to a total of 31 years in jail and 154 lashes.
Mohammadi is one of Iran’s leading human rights activists. She has fought for women’s rights and against the use of the death penalty. She is currently head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center.
She takes the award just over a year since the women-led uprising started in Iran, which followed the death of 22 year old Mahsa Amini after she was detained for not wearing a headscarf properly in Tehran.
Amini died in custody three days after her arrest on September 16, with her family and local media alleging she was bashed by police.
The widespread protests across Iran have become one of the biggest and most serious challenges to Iran’s ruling authorities since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement has since spread across the world, with many people joining protests in solidarity.
Mohammadi is the 19th woman to be awarded the Peace Prize in its 122 year history. The most recent was journalist Maria Ressa in 2021, recognised by the Norwegian committee for her journalistic work defending press freedom and holding the Philippines’ government to account.