Narges Foundation’s Statement on Narges Mohammadi’s First Nobel Peace Prize Anniversary
“I will endure any suffering, deprivation, and hardship for the sake of peace, democracy, and human rights, and the hardships will make me stronger and more resilient. One day, not too far from now, you will hear the anthem of our liberation from gender apartheid and the victory anthem of the Iranian people ending tyranny. That day will undoubtedly come, and you will share in our victory celebration.”
Quote – Narges Mohammadi 6th oct 2024
Today marks the first anniversary of Narges Mohammadi being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2023 “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all”
She has been arrested 13 times, sentenced to a staggering 36 years in prison, and subjected to 154 lashes. Narges has already spent 10 years of her life behind bars and is now facing an additional 11 years.
When her selection as the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was announced on October 6, 2023, she was imprisoned in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, where she remains confined today.
The announcement, made by Mrs. Berit Reiss-Andersen, former chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, began with the slogan of the Iranian people’s movement. “Women, Life, Freedom” from the podium of the Nobel Peace Foundation which was like an echo of the protests led by courageous women & men in the streets of Iran.
This prestigious award highlights global attention on the courageous women of Iran and serves as a beacon of hope for women throughout the Middle East. It embodies support for the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement and stands as a tribute to Mahsa (Zhina) Amini. This honor recognizes a woman in Iran who is fighting for human rights and women’s rights, dreaming of a transition from tyranny to democracy, with ideals rooted in freedom and equality. Its significance lies in its unwavering support for the dedicated democratic movement advocating for human rights and women’s rights.
As we commemorate this significant anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to amplifying the voices of those bravely advocating for human rights and women’s rights in Iran.
The Narges Foundation urges the global community to support the movement for freedom and justice in Iran. It is evident that the will of the Iranian people to transition from an authoritarian religious government to achieve democracy, freedom, and equality requires the cooperation and support of international human rights institutions, and the United Nations. Criminalizing gender apartheid is a crucial first step that will transform this expectation into a national and global hope.
In honor of this day, we invite everyone to reflect on the impact of “Woman, Life, Freedom” and to stand in solidarity with the people of Iran in their struggle for freedom.
