Quick Read
- Narges Mohammadi, 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was arrested at a memorial in Mashhad, Iran, on December 12, 2025.
- Her arrest followed public remarks at a ceremony for Khosro Alikordi, a human rights lawyer who died under suspicious circumstances.
- Iranian authorities have not commented on her whereabouts or whether she will be returned to prison to serve her previous sentence.
- Mohammadi’s family and supporters, as well as the Nobel Committee, have expressed deep concern for her health and safety.
- The arrest has renewed international calls for her immediate release and for an independent investigation into Alikordi’s death.
On a somber day in Mashhad, the eastern city of Iran, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was arrested at a memorial ceremony for Khosro Alikordi—a prominent human rights lawyer whose recent death has raised unsettling questions. The arrest, described by her supporters as violent and abrupt, has triggered a chorus of international condemnation and spotlighted the deepening repression of civil society in Iran.
Mohammadi, 53, who received the Nobel in 2023 for her relentless advocacy against the oppression of women and her campaign to abolish capital punishment, had been granted temporary medical leave from prison in December 2024. That leave, initially set for just three weeks, was extended due to serious health concerns—she had suffered multiple heart attacks and required surgery for a bone lesion. Yet, even while out of prison, Mohammadi remained a steadfast presence in Iran’s human rights movement, her public appearances and outspoken activism making her a symbol of resistance for many.
Arrest at a Tense Memorial: The Gathering That Sparked a Crackdown
The fateful memorial, held for Alikordi—a lawyer known for his fearless defense of civil liberties—became a flashpoint. According to The Guardian and BBC, Mohammadi addressed the crowd, calling out for justice and invoking the name of Majidreza Rahnavard, a protester executed in 2022. Her presence, and that of fellow activists, quickly drew the attention of security forces. Video footage shows Mohammadi at a microphone, leading chants without a headscarf—a defiant gesture in a country where the hijab is mandatory and symbolic resistance is often met with force.
Within moments, police and security agents moved in, reportedly using teargas and physical force to disperse mourners. Mohammadi and several other activists were detained. Iranian officials later claimed the arrests were a preventive measure against “norm-breaking” slogans. But her family and supporters insist the move was a targeted effort to stifle dissent and intimidate those demanding accountability for Alikordi’s suspicious death.
Unanswered Questions: Suspicion Surrounds Alikordi’s Death
The context of Mohammadi’s arrest cannot be separated from the circumstances of Khosro Alikordi’s demise. Officially, authorities have attributed his death to a heart attack, but the timing and the state’s response have left many unconvinced. More than 80 lawyers in Iran have signed a statement demanding transparency, and rights groups such as the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran have pointed to a pattern of harassment and threats against Alikordi in recent years.
Norway-based Iran Human Rights called for an independent investigation, describing the death as “suspicious.” The heightened security measures and the subsequent crackdown at the memorial only deepened those suspicions. As Mohammadi’s husband, Taghi Rahmani, told The Guardian and BBC from Paris, “This is a targeted attack on democracy and the right to freedom of expression.”
International Response: Calls for Immediate Release and Justice
The global reaction was swift. The Norwegian Nobel Committee released a strongly worded statement expressing “deep concern” and demanding Mohammadi’s immediate and unconditional release. Human rights organizations echoed these calls, warning that Mohammadi’s deteriorating health could be worsened by renewed imprisonment. Her lawyer, Chirinne Ardakani, reiterated demands for her client’s freedom and for an independent inquiry into Alikordi’s death, suggesting potential state involvement.
Yet, as of this writing, Iranian authorities have made no public comment on Mohammadi’s whereabouts or the status of the other activists detained alongside her. Her family has been left in the dark, unsure whether she is in the custody of the Revolutionary Guards, the police, or other security agencies. “My mother could be anywhere,” her son Ali told The Guardian. “We don’t know anything.”
Defiance and Risk: Mohammadi’s Ongoing Fight for Rights
Narges Mohammadi’s arrest is the latest in a long line of state actions against her. An engineer by training, she has been arrested 13 times, convicted in five separate cases, and sentenced to over 36 years in prison and 154 lashes. Her activism—especially her refusal to wear the mandatory hijab and her public criticism of state repression—has made her a perennial target for Iranian authorities.
Despite repeated threats, Mohammadi has continued to advocate for democracy, freedom of expression, and an end to capital punishment. In the week leading up to her arrest, she published an article in Time magazine, detailing the all-encompassing control the Iranian state exerts over daily life and the constant surveillance, censorship, and threat of violence faced by activists. The Nobel Committee noted that Mohammadi had received explicit warnings that her safety was at risk unless she ceased all public and international advocacy.
Her courage has not gone unnoticed. Across social media, her supporters have launched campaigns demanding her release, while international legal and human rights communities have amplified their calls for accountability and reform in Iran. Yet the cycle of arrest, intimidation, and protest continues—a pattern familiar to those who have followed Iran’s treatment of dissent in recent years.
As Iran faces ongoing economic pressures, international sanctions, and regional instability, the government’s grip on civil society appears to be tightening. The latest crackdown, including Mohammadi’s arrest, seems aimed not only at silencing high-profile activists but also at sending a message to all who dare to demand change.
The arrest of Narges Mohammadi is a stark reminder of the personal cost borne by those who challenge authoritarian power. While her fate remains uncertain, the global outcry sparked by her detention underscores the enduring importance of international attention and solidarity. Her story is not just about one activist, but about the broader struggle for human rights and dignity in Iran—a struggle that continues, often at great risk, in the face of relentless state pressure.