Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner and prominent human rights activist, has been sentenced to an additional prison term of more than seven years. Her lawyer confirmed the new sentence on Sunday, stating it was issued by a Revolutionary Court in the city of Mashhad.
The 53-year-old activist was convicted on charges of “gathering and collusion” against national security and engaging in “propaganda against the state.” In addition to the prison term, the court imposed two years of internal exile and a two-year travel ban, further restricting her movement even after her potential release.
New Charges and Penalties
According to Mohammadi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, the new sentence includes six years for the charge of assembly and collusion, plus an additional one year and six months for propaganda activities. Nili, who communicated with Mohammadi via phone, stated that the verdict was delivered on Saturday.
The court also ordered Mohammadi to serve two years of internal exile in Khosf, a city located approximately 740 kilometers (460 miles) southeast of Tehran. This ruling comes shortly after Mohammadi concluded a hunger strike to protest her detention conditions and lack of access to medical care.
Arrest at Memorial Service
The charges stem from an incident in December when Mohammadi was arrested while attending a memorial service in Mashhad. She was detained on December 12 after speaking at a gathering for a lawyer who had died under suspicious circumstances. Prosecutors alleged that she made inflammatory comments at the service and incited attendees to “chant norm-breaking slogans” and “disrupt the peace.”
Following her arrest, Mohammadi was held in a Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Mashhad. Her supporters reported that she endured weeks of isolation and a communication blackout before finally being able to speak with her legal counsel.
Health Concerns and Hunger Strike
The Narges Foundation, a support organization, reported that Mohammadi ended a week-long hunger strike on Sunday. She had initiated the strike on February 2 to protest her transfer to the detention center and the denial of necessary medical treatment.
During her call with Nili, Mohammadi revealed that she had been transferred to a hospital three days prior due to worsening health but was returned to detention before her treatment was completed. Her lawyer expressed hope that she might be granted temporary release on bail to receive proper medical care, though the sentence remains subject to appeal.
Continued Activism from Behind Bars
Mohammadi, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023, has spent much of the past two decades in and out of prison for her campaign to advance women’s rights and abolish the death penalty in Iran. Her latest imprisonment coincides with a broader crackdown on dissent in the country following widespread anti-government demonstrations.
Despite her incarceration, Mohammadi has remained a vocal critic of the government. Her supporters noted that she was at liberty during a brief conflict between Iran and Israel in June but faced renewed legal pressure after her temporary medical release was extended late last year.
