“If I am imprisoned again, I will continue to fight in whatever way I can from inside the prison,” #NargesMohammadi declares in an interview with @Expressen.

Narges Mohammadi faces the constant threat of being arrested again by the Iranian regime. Yet, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate remains steadfast in her fight for women’s rights in her homeland.

On December 4, 2024, #NobelPeacePrize  laureate Narges Mohammadi—a renowned human rights and women’s rights activist, as well as a journalist—was granted a 21-day temporary leave from Iran’s Evin Prison due to her deteriorating health. Although her lawyers initially advised her against giving interviews during this suspension of her sentence, she chose to speak with Expressen about her ongoing struggle and the resilience of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, which she believes is stronger now than ever before.

“I have always said that the dictatorial religious regime must be overthrown and replaced with a democratic system,” she states firmly.

For her unyielding determination and relentless activism, Mohammadi has endured prolonged periods of imprisonment. The shadow of incarceration constantly looms over her, making every public statement an act of both courage and defiance.

“The first time I was arrested in front of my children, Ali & Kiana were only three and a half years old. I am certain that the experience left deep scars on them,” she reflects.

She recounts the harrowing memories of her twins, Ali and Kiana, witnessing her being taken from their home in the middle of the night. The trauma repeated itself when the children were five years old. At that time, Mohammadi’s husband Taghi Rahmani were forced to live in exile, leaving her alone with the children when regime forces stormed her home and arrested her.

“It has now been ten years since my children left the country in 2015, and I have not seen them since,” she says. Despite this, she remains resolute, expressing hope that one day she will reunite with her children in a free Iran. Now 18 years old, her children live in France with their father.

Narges Mohammadi has become a symbol of the struggle for women’s rights in Iran. Her tireless commitment was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023, but her sacrifices have been immense. During her time in prison, she has undergone four surgeries, a testament to the physical toll of her ordeal.

In her video responses to Expressen, Mohammadi sits on a chair in her home, her calm demeanor belying the weight of her words. Behind her, two framed photographs are visible. One shows Mahsa Jina Amini, the young woman whose death in September 2022 ignited widespread protests and became the rallying cry for the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. The other photograph is from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Norway in 2023. In the image, her two children stand with dignified expressions. Between them, however, is a poignant symbol of absence: an empty chair – the one Narges Mohammadi would have occupied, had she been free.

Mohammadi faces the camera with a calm and composed expression as she responds to Expressen’s questions. She is unveiled, her nails painted a bold red, and her face lightly made up – a striking defiance of the strict rules governing women’s public appearance in #Iran.
#NargesMohammadi